Sclerostin binding antibodies

ABSTRACT

Compositions and methods relating to epitopes of sclerostin protein, and sclerostin binding agents, such as antibodies capable of binding to sclerostin, are provided.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/950,094, filed Nov. 19, 2010, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/276,889 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,872,106), filed Nov. 24, 2008, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/411,003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,592,429), filed Apr. 25, 2006, which claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/792,645, filed Apr. 17, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/782,244, filed Mar. 13, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/776,847, filed Feb. 24, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/677,583, filed May 3, 2005, under 35 U.S.C. §119. The foregoing patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

Incorporated by reference in its entirety is a computer-readable nucleotide/amino acid sequence listing submitted concurrently herewith and identified as follows: ASCII (text) file named “40000C_SubSeqListing.txt,” 507,625 bytes, created Jan. 15, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to epitopes of sclerostin protein, including human sclerostin protein, and binding agents (such as antibodies) capable of binding to sclerostin or fragments thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Two or three distinct phases of changes to bone mass occur over the life of an individual (see Riggs, West I Med. 154:63-77 (1991)). The first phase occurs in both men and women and proceeds to attainment of a peak bone mass. This first phase is achieved through linear growth of the endochondral growth plates and radial growth due to a rate of periosteal apposition. The second phase begins around age 30 for trabecular bone (flat bones such as the vertebrae and pelvis) and about age 40 for cortical bone (e.g., long bones found in the limbs) and continues to old age. This phase is characterized by slow bone loss and occurs in both men and women. In women, a third phase of bone loss also occurs, most likely due to postmenopausal estrogen deficiencies. During this phase alone, women may lose an additional bone mass from the cortical bone and from the trabecular compartment (see Riggs, supra).

Loss of bone mineral content can be caused by a wide variety of conditions and may result in significant medical problems. For example, osteoporosis is a debilitating disease in humans and is characterized by marked decreases in skeletal bone mass and mineral density, structural deterioration of bone, including degradation of bone microarchitecture and corresponding increases in bone fragility (i.e., decreases in bone strength), and susceptibility fracture in afflicted individuals. Osteoporosis in humans is generally preceded by clinical osteopenia (bone mineral density that is greater than one standard deviation but less than 2.5 standard deviations below the mean value for young adult bone), a condition found in approximately 25 million people in the United States. Another 7-8 million patients in the United States have been diagnosed with clinical osteoporosis (defined as bone mineral content greater than 2.5 standard deviations below that of mature young adult bone). The frequency of osteoporosis in the human population increases with age. Among Caucasians, osteoporosis is predominant in women who, in the United States, comprise 80% of the osteoporosis patient pool. The increased fragility and susceptibility to fracture of skeletal bone in the aged is aggravated by the greater risk of accidental falls in this population. Fractured hips, wrists, and vertebrae are among the most common injuries associated with osteoporosis. Hip fractures in particular are extremely uncomfortable and expensive for the patient, and for women, correlate with high rates of mortality and morbidity.

Although osteoporosis has been regarded as an increase in the risk of fracture due to decreased bone mass, few of the presently available treatments for skeletal disorders can increase the bone density of adults, and most of the presently available treatments work primarily by inhibiting further bone resorption rather than stimulating new bone formation. Estrogen is now being prescribed to retard bone loss. However, some controversy exists over whether patients gain any long-term benefit and whether estrogen has any effect on patients over 75 years old. Moreover, use of estrogen is believed to increase the risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Calcitonin, osteocalcin with vitamin K, or high doses of dietary calcium, with or without vitamin D, have also been suggested for postmenopausal women. High doses of calcium, however, often have undesired gastrointestinal side effects, and serum and urinary calcium levels must be continuously monitored (e.g., Khosla and Riggs, Mayo Clin. Proc. 70:978982, 1995).

Other current therapeutic approaches to osteoporosis include bisphosphonates (e.g., Fosamax™, Actonel™, Bonviva™, Zometa™, olpadronate, neridronate, skelid, bonefos), parathyroid hormone, calcilytics, calcimimetics (e.g., cinacalcet), statins, anabolic steroids, lanthanum and strontium salts, and sodium fluoride. Such therapeutics, however, are often associated with undesirable side effects (see Khosla and Riggs, supra).

Sclerostin, the product of the SOST gene, is absent in sclerosteosis, a skeletal disease characterized by bone overgrowth and strong dense bones (Brunkow et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet., 68:577-589, 2001; Balemans et al., Hum. Mol. Genet., 10:537-543, 2001). The amino acid sequence of human sclerostin is reported by Brunkow et al. ibid and is disclosed herein as SEQ ID NO:1.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that can be used to increase at least one of bone formation, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone quality and bone strength, and that therefore may be used to treat a wide variety of conditions in which an increase in at least one of bone formation, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone quality and bone strength is desirable. The present invention also offers other related advantages described herein.

The invention relates to regions (epitopes) of human sclerostin recognized by the binding agents disclosed herein, methods of using these epitopes, and methods of making such epitopes.

The invention also relates to epitopes specific to the region of sclerostin identified as Loop 2, and binding agents which specifically bind to that region.

The invention also relates to epitopes specific to the cystine-knot region of sclerostin, and binding agents such as antibodies specifically binding to that region.

The invention relates to binding agents, such as antibodies, that specifically bind to sclerostin. The binding agents can be characterized by their ability to cross-block the binding of at least one antibody disclosed herein to sclerostin and/or to be cross-blocked from binding sclerostin by at least one antibody disclosed herein. The antibodies and other binding agents can also be characterized by their binding pattern to human sclerostin peptides in a “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay” as disclosed herein.

The invention relates to binding agents, such as antibodies, that can increase at least one of bone formation, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone quality and bone strength in a mammal.

The invention relates to binding agents, such as antibodies, that can block the inhibitory effect of sclerostin in a cell based mineralization assay.

The invention further relates to polypeptide constructs comprising two, three, or four polypeptide fragments linked by at least one disulfide bond, representing a core region of the cystine-knot of sclerostin, and antibodies capable of specifically binding thereto.

The invention relates to methods of obtaining epitopes suitable for use as immunogens for generating, in mammals, binding agents, such as antibodies capable of binding specifically to sclerostin; in certain embodiments the binding agents generated are capable of neutralizing sclerostin activity in vivo.

The invention relates to a composition for eliciting an antibody specific for sclerostin when the composition is administered to an animal, the composition comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68, or SEQ ID NO:69.

The invention also relates to a composition for eliciting an antibody specific for sclerostin when the composition is administered to an animal, the composition comprising at least one polypeptide consisting essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:5; the composition may comprise at least two or at least three of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5, and the composition may comprise all four of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5.

The invention further relates to a composition for eliciting an antibody specific for sclerostin when the composition is administered to an animal, the composition comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5, wherein SEQ ID NO:2 and 4 are joined by a disulfide bond at amino acid positions 57 and 111 with reference to SEQ ID NO:1, and SEQ ID NO:3 and 5 are joined by at least one of (a) a disulfide bond at amino acid positions 82 and 142 with reference to SEQ ID NO:1, and (b) a disulfide bond at amino acid positions 86 and 144 with reference to SEQ ID NO:1; the polypeptide may retain the tertiary structure of the corresponding polypeptide region of human sclerostin of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also relates to polypeptide T20.6 consisting essentially of a multiply truncated human sclerostin protein of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein amino acids 1-50, 65-72, 91-100, 118-137, and 150-190 of SEQ ID NO:1 are absent from the polypeptide; this polypeptide may be obtained by tryptic digestion of human sclerostin, and the protein may be isolated by HPLC fractionation.

The invention further relates to immunogenic portion T20.6 of human sclerostin comprising amino acids 51-64, 73-90, 101-117, and 138-149 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the immunogenic portion comprises at least one of:

(a) a disulfide bond between amino acids 57 and 111;

(b) a disulfide bond between amino acids 82 and 142; and

(c) a disulfide bond between amino acids 86 and 144;

the immunogenic portion may have at least two of these disulfide bonds; and the immunogenic portion may have all three disulfide bonds.

The invention further relates to an immunogenic portion T20.6 derivative of human sclerostin comprising amino acids 57-64, 73-86, 111-117, and 138-144 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the immunogenic portion comprises at least one of:

(a) a disulfide bond between amino acids 57 and 111;

(b) a disulfide bond between amino acids 82 and 142; and

(c) a disulfide bond between amino acids 86 and 144;

the immunogenic portion may have at least two of these disulfide bonds; and the immunogenic portion may have all three disulfide bonds.

The invention yet further relates to a polypeptide consisting essentially of a human sclerostin protein of SEQ ID NO:1 truncated at the C-terminal and N-terminal ends, wherein amino acids 1-85 and 112-190 of SEQ ID NO:1 are absent from the polypeptide.

The invention also relates to an immunogenic portion of human sclerostin, comprising amino acids 86-111 of SEQ ID NO:1; the immunogenic portion may consist essentially of contiguous amino acids CGPARLLPNAIGRGKWWRPSGPDFRC (SEQ ID NO:6).

The invention further relates to an immunogenic portion of rat sclerostin, comprising amino acids 92-109 of SEQ ID NO:98; the immunogenic portion may consist essentially of contiguous amino acids PNAIGRVKWWRPNGPDFR (SEQ ID NO:96).

The invention still further relates to an immunogenic portion of rat sclerostin, comprising amino acids 99-120 of SEQ ID NO:98; the immunogenic portion may consist essentially of contiguous amino acids KWWRPNGPDFRCIPDRYRAQRV (SEQ ID NO:97).

The invention relates to a method of producing an immunogenic portion of human sclerostin, comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) treating human sclerostin to achieve complete tryptic         digestion;     -   (b) collecting the tryptic digest sample having average         molecular weight of 7,122.0 Daltons (theoretical mass 7121.5         Daltons) or retention time of about 20.6 minutes as determined         by elution from a reverse-phase HPLC column with linear gradient         from 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid to 90% acetonitrile in 0.05% TFA         at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min; and     -   (c) purifying the immunogenic portion.

The invention relates to a method of generating an antibody capable of specifically binding to sclerostin, comprising:

-   -   (a) immunizing an animal with a composition comprising a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID         NO:65, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68, SEQ ID NO:69,         SEQ ID NO:96, or SEQ ID NO:97;     -   (b) collecting sera from the animal; and     -   (c) isolating from the sera an antibody capable of specifically         binding to sclerostin.

The invention also relates to a method of generating an antibody capable of specifically binding to sclerostin, the method comprising:

-   -   (a) immunizing an animal with a composition comprising         polypeptide T20.6 or a derivative of T20.6;     -   (b) collecting sera from the animal; and     -   (c) isolating from the sera an antibody capable of specifically         binding to sclerostin.

The invention further relates to a method of detecting an anti-sclerostin antibody in a biological sample, comprising the steps of

-   -   (a) contacting the biological sample with a polypeptide         consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID         NO:64, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68,         SEQ ID NO:69, SEQ ID NO:96, or SEQ ID NO:97 under conditions         allowing a complex to form between the antibody and the         polypeptide; and     -   (b) detecting the presence or absence of the complex,         wherein the presence of the complex indicates that the         biological sample contains an anti-sclerostin antibody.

The invention also relates to a method of detecting an anti-sclerostin antibody in a biological sample, comprising the steps of

-   -   (a) contacting the biological sample with polypeptide T20.6 or a         derivative of T20.6 under conditions allowing a complex to form         between the antibody and the polypeptide; and     -   (b) detecting the presence or absence of the complex,         wherein the presence of the complex indicates that the         biological sample contains an anti-sclerostin antibody.

The invention further relates to a sclerostin binding agent, such as an antibody, that cross-blocks the binding of at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, or Ab-D to a sclerostin protein. The sclerostin binding agent may also be cross-blocked from binding to sclerostin by at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, or Ab-D. The isolated antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, may be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a humanized antibody, a human antibody, a chimeric antibody or the like.

The invention further relates to a sclerostin binding agent, such as an antibody, that is cross-blocked from binding to sclerostin by at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, or Ab-D. The isolated antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, may be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a humanized antibody, a human antibody, a chimeric antibody or the like.

The invention further relates to a sclerostin binding agent, such as an isolated antibody, that cross-blocks the binding of at least one of antibodies 1-24 (Ab-1 to Ab-24) to a sclerostin protein. The sclerostin binding agent may also be cross-blocked from binding to sclerostin by at least one of antibodies 1-24 (Ab-1 to Ab-24). The isolated antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, may be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a humanized antibody, a human antibody, or a chimeric antibody.

The invention further relates to a sclerostin binding agent, such as an isolated antibody, that is cross-blocked from binding to sclerostin by at least one of antibodies 1-24 (Ab-1 to Ab-24); the isolated antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, may be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a humanized antibody, a human antibody, or a chimeric antibody.

The invention further relates to a binding agent, such as an isolated antibody that exhibits a similar binding pattern to human sclerostin peptides in a “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay” as that exhibited by at least one of the antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C or Ab-D; the isolated antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, may be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a humanized antibody, a human antibody, or a chimeric antibody.

The invention still further relates to a method for treating a bone disorder associated with at least one of low bone formation, low bone mineral density, low bone mineral content, low bone mass, low bone quality and low bone strength in a mammalian subject which comprises providing to a subject in need of such treatment an amount of an anti-sclerostin binding agent sufficient to increase at least one of bone formation, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone quality and bone strength wherein the anti-sclerostin binding agent comprises an antibody, or sclerostin-binding fragment thereof.

The invention also relates to an isolated sclerostin polypeptide or fragments thereof, wherein the polypeptide contains 6 conserved cysteine residues and the fragments thereof comprise from 7 to 14 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2; 8 to 17 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:3; 8 to 18 residues of SEQ ID NO:4; and 6 to 12 residues of SEQ ID NO:5, and the polypeptide or fragments thereof are stabilized by disulfide bonds between SEQ ID NO:2 and 4, and between SEQ ID NO:3 and 5; the polypeptide or fragments may comprise 10-14 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2; 14 to 17 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:3; 13 to 18 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:4; and 8 to 12 residues of SEQ ID NO:5; and the polypeptide or fragments may comprise SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, and SEQ ID NO:5.

Provided herein are antibodies that specifically bind to human sclerostin. The antibodies are characterized by their ability to cross-block the binding of at least one antibody disclosed herein to human sclerostin and/or to be cross-blocked from binding human sclerostin by at least one antibody disclosed herein.

Also provided is an isolated antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that can increase at least one of bone formation, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone quality and bone strength in a mammal.

Also provided in an isolated antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that can block the inhibitory effect of sclerostin in a cell based mineralization assay.

Also provided is a binding agent, such as an antibody, that specifically binds to human sclerostin and has at least one CDR sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 78, 79, 80, 81, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 351, 352, 353, 358, 359, and 360, and variants thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof neutralizes sclerostin.

Also provided is a binding agent, such as an antibody, that specifically binds to human sclerostin and has at least one CDR sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs:39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 78, 79, 80, 81, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 351, 352, 353, 358, 359, and 360, and variants thereof.

Also provided are regions of human sclerostin which are important for the in vivo activity of the protein.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawings. All references disclosed herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties as if each was incorporated individually.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the amino acid sequences of the mature form (signal peptides cleaved off) of the light chain (FIG. 1A) (SEQ ID NO:23) and heavy chain (FIG. 1B) (SEQ ID NO:27) for the anti-human sclerostin and anti-mouse sclerostin antibody Ab-A.

FIG. 2 depicts the amino acid sequences of the mature form (signal peptides cleaved off) of the light chain (FIG. 2A) (SEQ ID NO:31) and heavy chain (FIG. 2B) (SEQ ID NO:35) for the anti-human sclerostin and anti-mouse sclerostin antibody Ab-B.

FIG. 3 depicts the amino acid sequences of the mature form (signal peptides cleaved oft) of the light chain (FIG. 3A) (SEQ ID NO:15) and heavy chain (FIG. 3B) (SEQ ID NO:19) for the anti-human sclerostin and anti-mouse sclerostin antibody Ab-C.

FIG. 4 depicts the amino acid sequences of the mature form (signal peptides cleaved off) of the light chain (FIG. 4A) (SEQ ID NO:7) and heavy chain (FIG. 4B) (SEQ ID NO:11) for the anti-human sclerostin and anti-mouse sclerostin antibody Ab-D.

FIG. 5 depicts bone mineral density in mice measured at two skeletal sites (lumbar vertebrae and tibial metaphysis) after 3 weeks of treatment with vehicle, PTH (1-34), Ab-A or Ab-B.

FIG. 6 shows bone mineral density in mice measured at two skeletal sites (lumbar vertebrae and tibial metaphysis) after 2 weeks of treatment with vehicle, PTH (1-34) or Ab-C.

FIG. 7 depicts bone mineral density in mice measured at two skeletal sites (lumbar vertebrae and tibial metaphysis) after 3 weeks of treatment with vehicle or Ab-D.

FIG. 8 depicts the amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide cleaved oft) of human sclerostin (SEQ ID NO:1). Also depicted is the nucleotide sequence of the human sclerostin coding region that encodes the mature form of human sclerostin. The eight cysteines are numbered C1 through C8. The cystine-knot is formed by three disulfide bonds (C1-C5; C3-C7; C4-C8). C2 and C6 also form a disulfide bond, however this disulfide is not part of the cystine-knot.

FIG. 9 depicts a schematic of the basic structure of human sclerostin. There is an N-terminal arm (from the first Q to C1) and a C-terminal arm (from C8 to the terminal Y). In between these arms there is the cystine-knot structure (formed by three disulfides: C1-C5; C3-C7; C4-C8) and three loops which are designated Loop1, Loop 2 and Loop 3. The distal regions of Loop 1 and Loop 3 are linked by the C2-C6 disulfide. Potential trypsin cleavage sites are indicated (arginine=R and lysine=K). Some of the potential AspN cleavage sites are indicated (only aspartic acid (D) residues are shown).

FIG. 10 depicts the HPLC peptide maps of human sclerostin after digestion with either trypsin or AspN. The human sclerostin peptides generated by trypsin digestion are indicated (T19.2, T20, T20.6 and T21-22) as are the human sclerostin peptides generated by AspN digestion (AspN14.6, AspN18.6 and AspN22.7-23.5).

FIG. 11 depicts sequence and mass information for the isolated human sclerostin disulfide linked peptides generated by trypsin digestion. Seq. pos.=sequence position. Obs.=observed. Observed mass was determined by ESI-LC-MS analysis.

FIG. 12 depicts sequence and mass information for the isolated human sclerostin peptides generated by AspN digestion. The AspN22.7-23.5 peptide contains the 4 disulfide bonds. Seq. pos.=sequence position. Obs.=observed. Observed mass was determined by ESI-LC-MS analysis.

FIG. 13 shows a linear schematic of four human sclerostin peptides (T19.2, T20, T20.6 and T21-22) generated by trypsin digestion.

FIG. 14 shows a linear schematic of five human sclerostin peptides (AspN14.6, AspN18.6 and AspN22.7-23.5) generated by AspN digestion. The AspN14.6 HPLC peak is composed of three peptides not linked by any disulfide bonds.

FIG. 15 shows the resonance unit (Ru) signal from the Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay.” Relative Mab binding to various human sclerostin-peptides (in solution) versus Mab binding to intact mature form human sclerostin (immobilized on Biacore chip) was assessed. Data shown is for Ab-A. Human sclerostin peptides used were T19.2, T20, T20.6, T21-22, AspN14.6, AspN18.6 and AspN22.7-23.5.

FIG. 16 shows the resonance unit (Ru) signal from the Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay.” Relative Mab binding to various human sclerostin-peptides (in solution) versus Mab binding to intact mature form human sclerostin (immobilized on Biacore chip) was assessed. Data shown is for Ab-B. Human sclerostin peptides used were T19.2, T20, T20.6, T21-22, AspN14.6, AspN18.6 and AspN22.7-23.5.

FIG. 17 shows the resonance unit (Ru) signal from the Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay.” Relative Mab binding to various human sclerostin-peptides (in solution) versus Mab binding to intact mature form human sclerostin (immobilized on Biacore chip) was assessed. Data shown is for Ab-C. Human sclerostin peptides used were T19.2, T20, T20.6, T21-22, AspN14.6, AspN18.6 and AspN22.7-23.5.

FIG. 18 shows the resonance unit (Ru) signal from Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay.” Relative Mab binding to various human sclerostin-peptides (in solution) versus Mab binding to intact mature form human sclerostin (immobilized on Biacore chip) was assessed. Data shown is for Ab-D. Human sclerostin peptides used were T19.2, T20, T20.6, T21-22, AspN14.6, AspN18.6 and AspN22.7-23.5.

FIG. 19 shows two Mab binding epitopes of human sclerostin. FIG. 19A shows sequence of the Loop 2 epitope for binding of Ab-A and Ab-B to human sclerostin (SEQ ID NO:6). FIG. 19B shows sequence, disulfide bonding and schematic of the T20.6 epitope for binding of Ab-C and Ab-D to human sclerostin (SEQ ID NO:2-5).

FIG. 20 depicts the HPLC peptide maps of human sclerostin after digestion with trypsin. FIG. 20A shows digestion of the human sclerostin Ab-D complex. FIG. 20B shows digestion of human sclerostin alone. The T19.2, T20, T20.6 and T21-22 peptide peaks are indicated.

FIG. 21 shows the sequence, disulfide bonding and schematic of the “T20.6 derivative 1 (cystine-knot+4 arms)” epitope for binding of Ab-D to human sclerostin. (SEQ ID NO:70-73).

FIG. 22 shows results from the MC3T3-E1-BF osteoblast cell line mineralization assay used for identifying anti-sclerostin neutralizing Mabs. Mouse sclerostin (Scl) was used at 1 μg/ml. Monoclonal antibodies were used at 10 and 5 μg/ml. Extent of mineralization (various types of insoluble calcium phosphate) was quantitated by measuring calcium.

FIG. 23 depicts results from the MC3T3-E1-BF osteoblast cell line mineralization assay used for identifying anti-sclerostin neutralizing Mabs. Human sclerostin (Scl) was used at 1 μg/ml. Monoclonal antibodies were used at 8 and 4 μg/ml. Extent of mineralization (various types of insoluble calcium phosphate) was quantitated by measuring calcium.

FIG. 24 shows results from the MC3T3-E1-BF osteoblast cell line mineralization assay used for identifying anti-sclerostin neutralizing Mabs. Human sclerostin (Scl) was used at 1 μg/ml. Monoclonal antibodies were used at 10 μg/ml. Extent of mineralization (various types of insoluble calcium phosphate) was quantitated by measuring calcium.

FIG. 25 depicts results from an inflammation-induced bone loss SCID mouse model. Ab-A treatment protected mice from inflammation-related bone loss associated with colitis when measured as total bone mineral density (FIG. 25A), vertebral bone density (FIG. 25B), and femur bone density (FIG. 25C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to regions of the human sclerostin protein that contain epitopes recognized by antibodies that also bind to full-length sclerostin, and methods of making and using these epitopes. The invention also provides binding agents (such as antibodies) that specifically bind to sclerostin or portions of sclerostin, and methods for using such binding agents. The binding agents are useful to block or impair binding of human sclerostin to one or more ligand.

Recombinant human sclerostin/SOST is commercially available from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn., USA; 2006 cat#1406-ST-025). Additionally, recombinant mouse sclerostin/SOST is commercially available from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn., USA; 2006 cat#1589-ST-025). Research grade sclerostin binding monoclonal antibodies are commercially available from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn., USA; mouse monoclonal: 2006 cat#MAB1406; rat monoclonal: 2006 cat# MAB1589). U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,395,511 and 6,803,453, and U.S. Patent Publications 20040009535 and 20050106683 refer to anti-sclerostin antibodies generally.

As used herein, the term human sclerostin is intended to include the protein of SEQ ID NO:1 and allelic variants thereof. Sclerostin can be purified from 293T host cells that have been transfected by a gene encoding sclerostin by elution of filtered supernatant of host cell culture fluid using a Heparin HP column, using a salt gradient. The preparation and further purification using cation exchange chromatography are described in Examples 1 and 2.

Binding agents of the invention are preferably antibodies, as defined herein. The term “antibody” refers to an intact antibody, or a binding fragment thereof. An antibody may comprise a complete antibody molecule (including polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, humanized, or human versions having full length heavy and/or light chains), or comprise an antigen binding fragment thereof. Antibody fragments include F(ab′)₂, Fab, Fab′, Fv, Fc, and Fd fragments, and can be incorporated into single domain antibodies, single-chain antibodies, maxibodies, minibodies, intrabodies, diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, v-NAR and bis-scFv (See e.g., Hollinger and Hudson, 2005, Nature Biotechnology, 23, 9, 1126-1136). Antibody polypeptides are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,199, including fibronectin polypeptide monobodies. Other antibody polypeptides are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0238646, which are single-chain polypeptides.

Antigen binding fragments derived from an antibody can be obtained, for example, by proteolytic hydrolysis of the antibody, for example, pepsin or papain digestion of whole antibodies according to conventional methods. By way of example, antibody fragments can be produced by enzymatic cleavage of antibodies with pepsin to provide a 5S fragment termed F(ab′)₂. This fragment can be further cleaved using a thiol reducing agent to produce 3.5S Fab′ monovalent fragments. Optionally, the cleavage reaction can be performed using a blocking group for the sulfhydryl groups that result from cleavage of disulfide linkages. As an alternative, an enzymatic cleavage using papain produces two monovalent Fab fragments and an Fc fragment directly. These methods are described, for example, by Goldenberg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,647, Nisonoff et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 89:230, 1960; Porter, Biochem. I 73:119, 1959; Edelman et al., in Methods in Enzymology 1:422 (Academic Press 1967); and by Andrews, S. M. and Titus, J. A. in Current Protocols in Immunology (Coligan J. E., et al., eds), John Wiley & Sons, New York (2003). pages 2.8.1-2.8.10 and 2.10A.1-2.10A.5. Other methods for cleaving antibodies, such as separating heavy chains to form monovalent light-heavy chain fragments (Fd), further cleaving of fragments, or other enzymatic, chemical, or genetic techniques may also be used, so long as the fragments bind to the antigen that is recognized by the intact antibody.

An antibody fragment may also be any synthetic or genetically engineered protein. For example, antibody fragments include isolated fragments consisting of the light chain variable region, “Fv” fragments consisting of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains, recombinant single chain polypeptide molecules in which light and heavy variable regions are connected by a peptide linker (scFv proteins).

Another form of an antibody fragment is a peptide comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of an antibody. CDRs (also termed “minimal recognition units”, or “hypervariable region”) can be obtained by constructing polynucleotides that encode the CDR of interest. Such polynucleotides are prepared, for example, by using the polymerase chain reaction to synthesize the variable region using mRNA of antibody-producing cells as a template (see, for example, Larrick et al., Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology 2:106, 1991; Courtenay-Luck, “Genetic Manipulation of Monoclonal Antibodies,” in Monoclonal Antibodies: Production, Engineering and Clinical Application, Ritter et al. (eds.), page 166 (Cambridge University Press 1995); and Ward et al., “Genetic Manipulation and Expression of Antibodies,” in Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Applications, Birch et al., (eds.), page 137 (Wiley-Liss, Inc. 1995)).

Thus, in one embodiment, the binding agent comprises at least one CDR as described herein. The binding agent may comprise at least two, three, four, five or six CDR's as described herein. The binding agent further may comprise at least one variable region domain of an antibody described herein. The variable region domain may be of any size or amino acid composition and will generally comprise at least one CDR sequence responsible for binding to human sclerostin, for example CDR-H1, CDR-H2, CDR-H3 and/or the light chain CDRs specifically described herein and which is adjacent to or in frame with one or more framework sequences. In general terms, the variable (V) region domain may be any suitable arrangement of immunoglobulin heavy (V_(H)) and/or light (V_(L)) chain variable domains. Thus, for example, the V region domain may be monomeric and be a V_(H) or V_(L) domain, which is capable of independently binding human sclerostin with an affinity at least equal to 1×10⁻⁷M or less as described below. Alternatively, the V region domain may be dimeric and contain V_(H)-V_(H), V_(H)-V_(L), or V_(L)-V_(L), dimers. The V region dimer comprises at least one V_(H) and at least one V_(L) chain that may be non-covalently associated (hereinafter referred to as F_(v)). If desired, the chains may be covalently coupled either directly, for example via a disulfide bond between the two variable domains, or through a linker, for example a peptide linker, to form a single chain Fv (scF_(v)).

The variable region domain may be any naturally occurring variable domain or an engineered version thereof. By engineered version is meant a variable region domain that has been created using recombinant DNA engineering techniques. Such engineered versions include those created, for example, from a specific antibody variable region by insertions, deletions, or changes in or to the amino acid sequences of the specific antibody. Particular examples include engineered variable region domains containing at least one CDR and optionally one or more framework amino acids from a first antibody and the remainder of the variable region domain from a second antibody.

The variable region domain may be covalently attached at a C-terminal amino acid to at least one other antibody domain or a fragment thereof. Thus, for example, a VH domain that is present in the variable region domain may be linked to an immunoglobulin CH1 domain, or a fragment thereof. Similarly a V_(L) domain may be linked to a C_(K) domain or a fragment thereof. In this way, for example, the antibody may be a Fab fragment wherein the antigen binding domain contains associated V_(H) and V_(L) domains covalently linked at their C-termini to a CH1 and C_(K) domain, respectively. The CH1 domain may be extended with further amino acids, for example to provide a hinge region or a portion of a hinge region domain as found in a Fab′ fragment, or to provide further domains, such as antibody CH2 and CH3 domains.

As described herein, binding agents comprise at least one of these CDRs. For example, one or more CDR may be incorporated into known antibody framework regions (IgG1, IgG2, etc.), or conjugated to a suitable vehicle to enhance the half-life thereof. Suitable vehicles include, but are not limited to Fc, polyethylene glycol (PEG), albumin, transferrin, and the like. These and other suitable vehicles are known in the art. Such conjugated CDR peptides may be in monomeric, dimeric, tetrameric, or other form. In one embodiment, one or more water-soluble polymer is bonded at one or more specific position, for example at the amino terminus, of a binding agent.

In certain preferred embodiments, a binding agent comprises one or more water soluble polymer attachments, including, but not limited to, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene glycol, or polypropylene glycol. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,835, 4,496,689, 4,301,144, 4,670,417, 4,791,192 and 4,179,337. In certain embodiments, a derivative binding agent comprises one or more of monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol, dextran, cellulose, or other carbohydrate based polymers, poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)-polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymers, a polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymer, polyoxyethylated polyols (e.g., glycerol) and polyvinyl alcohol, as well as mixtures of such polymers. In certain embodiments, one or more water-soluble polymer is randomly attached to one or more side chains. In certain embodiments, PEG can act to improve the therapeutic capacity for a binding agent, such as an antibody. Certain such methods are discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,426, which is hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose.

It will be appreciated that a binding agent of the present invention may have at least one amino acid substitution, providing that the binding agent retains binding specificity. Therefore, modifications to the binding agent structures are encompassed within the scope of the invention. These may include amino acid substitutions, which may be conservative or non-conservative, that do not destroy the sclerostin binding capability of a binding agent. Conservative amino acid substitutions may encompass non-naturally occurring amino acid residues, which are typically incorporated by chemical peptide synthesis rather than by synthesis in biological systems. These include peptidomimetics and other reversed or inverted forms of amino acid moieties. A conservative amino acid substitution may also involve a substitution of a native amino acid residue with a normative residue such that there is little or no effect on the polarity or charge of the amino acid residue at that position.

Non-conservative substitutions may involve the exchange of a member of one class of amino acids or amino acid mimetics for a member from another class with different physical properties (e.g. size, polarity, hydrophobicity, charge). Such substituted residues may be introduced into regions of the human antibody that are homologous with non-human antibodies, or into the non-homologous regions of the molecule.

Moreover, one skilled in the art may generate test variants containing a single amino acid substitution at each desired amino acid residue. The variants can then be screened using activity assays known to those skilled in the art. Such variants could be used to gather information about suitable variants. For example, if one discovered that a change to a particular amino acid residue resulted in destroyed, undesirably reduced, or unsuitable activity, variants with such a change may be avoided. In other words, based on information gathered from such routine experiments, one skilled in the art can readily determine the amino acids where further substitutions should be avoided either alone or in combination with other mutations.

A skilled artisan will be able to determine suitable variants of the polypeptide as set forth herein using well-known techniques. In certain embodiments, one skilled in the art may identify suitable areas of the molecule that may be changed without destroying activity by targeting regions not believed to be important for activity. In certain embodiments, one can identify residues and portions of the molecules that are conserved among similar polypeptides. In certain embodiments, even areas that may be important for biological activity or for structure may be subject to conservative amino acid substitutions without destroying the biological activity or without adversely affecting the polypeptide structure.

Additionally, one skilled in the art can review structure-function studies identifying residues in similar polypeptides that are important for activity or structure. In view of such a comparison, one can predict the importance of amino acid residues in a protein that correspond to amino acid residues which are important for activity or structure in similar proteins. One skilled in the art may opt for chemically similar amino acid substitutions for such predicted important amino acid residues.

One skilled in the art can also analyze the three-dimensional structure and amino acid sequence in relation to that structure in similar polypeptides. In view of such information, one skilled in the art may predict the alignment of amino acid residues of an antibody with respect to its three dimensional structure. In certain embodiments, one skilled in the art may choose not to make radical changes to amino acid residues predicted to be on the surface of the protein, since such residues may be involved in important interactions with other molecules.

A number of scientific publications have been devoted to the prediction of secondary structure. See Moult J., Curr. Op. in Biotech., 7(4):422-427 (1996), Chou et al., Biochemistry, 13(2):222-245 (1974); Chou et al., Biochemistry, 113(2):211-222 (1974); Chou et al., Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol., 47:45-148 (1978); Chou et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem., 47:251-276 and Chou et al., Biophys. J., 26:367-384 (1979). Moreover, computer programs are currently available to assist with predicting secondary structure. One method of predicting secondary structure is based upon homology modeling. For example, two polypeptides or proteins which have a sequence identity of greater than 30%, or similarity greater than 40% often have similar structural topologies. The recent growth of the protein structural database (PDB) has provided enhanced predictability of secondary structure, including the potential number of folds within a polypeptide's or protein's structure. See Holm et al., Nucl. Acid. Res., 27(1):244-247 (1999). It has been suggested (Brenner et al., Curr. Op. Struct. Biol., 7(3):369-376 (1997)) that there are a limited number of folds in a given polypeptide or protein and that once a critical number of structures have been resolved, structural prediction will become dramatically more accurate.

Additional methods of predicting secondary structure include “threading” (Jones, D., Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol., 7(3):377-87 (1997); Sippl et al., Structure, 4(1):15-19 (1996)), “profile analysis” (Bowie et al., Science, 253:164-170 (1991); Gribskov et al., Meth. Enzym., 183:146-159 (1990); Gribskov et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 84(13):4355-4358 (1987)), and “evolutionary linkage” (See Holm, supra (1999), and Brenner, supra (1997)).

In certain embodiments, variants of binding agents include glycosylation variants wherein the number and/or type of glycosylation site has been altered compared to the amino acid sequences of a parent polypeptide. In certain embodiments, variants comprise a greater or a lesser number of N-linked glycosylation sites than the native protein. An N-linked glycosylation site is characterized by the sequence: Asn-X-Ser or Asn-X-Thr, wherein the amino acid residue designated as X may be any amino acid residue except proline. The substitution of amino acid residues to create this sequence provides a potential new site for the addition of an N-linked carbohydrate chain. Alternatively, substitutions which eliminate this sequence will remove an existing N-linked carbohydrate chain. Also provided is a rearrangement of N-linked carbohydrate chains wherein one or more N-linked glycosylation sites (typically those that are naturally occurring) are eliminated and one or more new N-linked sites are created. Additional preferred antibody variants include cysteine variants wherein one or more cysteine residues are deleted from or substituted for another amino acid (e.g., serine) as compared to the parent amino acid sequence. Cysteine variants may be useful when antibodies must be refolded into a biologically active conformation such as after the isolation of insoluble inclusion bodies. Cysteine variants generally have fewer cysteine residues than the native protein, and typically have an even number to minimize interactions resulting from unpaired cysteines.

Desired amino acid substitutions (whether conservative or non-conservative) can be determined by those skilled in the art at the time such substitutions are desired. In certain embodiments, amino acid substitutions can be used to identify important residues of antibodies to sclerostin, or to increase or decrease the affinity of the antibodies to sclerostin described herein.

According to certain embodiments, preferred amino acid substitutions are those which: (1) reduce susceptibility to proteolysis, (2) reduce susceptibility to oxidation, (3) alter binding affinity for forming protein complexes, (4) alter binding affinities, and/or (4) confer or modify other physiochemical or functional properties on such polypeptides. According to certain embodiments, single or multiple amino acid substitutions (in certain embodiments, conservative amino acid substitutions) may be made in the naturally-occurring sequence (in certain embodiments, in the portion of the polypeptide outside the domain(s) forming intermolecular contacts). In certain embodiments, a conservative amino acid substitution typically may not substantially change the structural characteristics of the parent sequence (e.g., a replacement amino acid should not tend to break a helix that occurs in the parent sequence, or disrupt other types of secondary structure that characterizes the parent sequence). Examples of art-recognized polypeptide secondary and tertiary structures are described in Proteins, Structures and Molecular Principles (Creighton, Ed., W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1984)); Introduction to Protein Structure (C. Branden and J. Tooze, eds., Garland Publishing, New York, N.Y. (1991)); and Thornton et al. Nature 354:105 (1991), which are each incorporated herein by reference.

In certain embodiments, binding agents of the invention may be chemically bonded with polymers, lipids, or other moieties.

The binding agents may comprise at least one of the CDRs described herein incorporated into a biocompatible framework structure. In one example, the biocompatible framework structure comprises a polypeptide or portion thereof that is sufficient to form a conformationally stable structural support, or framework, or scaffold, which is able to display one or more sequences of amino acids that bind to an antigen (e.g., CDRs, a variable region, etc.) in a localized surface region. Such structures can be a naturally occurring polypeptide or polypeptide “fold” (a structural motif), or can have one or more modifications, such as additions, deletions or substitutions of amino acids, relative to a naturally occurring polypeptide or fold. These scaffolds can be derived from a polypeptide of any species (or of more than one species), such as a human, other mammal, other vertebrate, invertebrate, plant, bacteria or virus.

Typically the biocompatible framework structures are based on protein scaffolds or skeletons other than immunoglobulin domains. For example, those based on fibronectin, ankyrin, lipocalin, neocarzinostain, cytochrome b, CP1 zinc finger, PST1, coiled coil, LAC1-D1, Z domain and tendramisat domains may be used (See e.g., Nygren and Uhlen, 1997, Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 7, 463-469).

In preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the binding agents of the invention include the humanized antibodies described herein. Humanized antibodies such as those described herein can be produced using techniques known to those skilled in the art (Zhang, W., et al., Molecular Immunology. 42(12):1445-1451, 2005; Hwang W. et al., Methods. 36(1):35-42, 2005; Dall'Acqua W F, et al., Methods 36(1):43-60, 2005; and Clark, M., Immunology Today. 21(8):397-402, 2000).

Additionally, one skilled in the art will recognize that suitable binding agents include portions of these antibodies, such as one or more of CDR-H1, CDR-H2, CDR-H3, CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 as specifically disclosed herein. At least one of the regions of CDR-H1, CDR-H2, CDR-H3, CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 may have at least one amino acid substitution, provided that the binding agent retains the binding specificity of the non-substituted CDR. The non-CDR portion of the binding agent may be a non-protein molecule, wherein the binding agent cross-blocks the binding of an antibody disclosed herein to sclerostin and/or neutralizes sclerostin. The non-CDR portion of the binding agent may be a non-protein molecule in which the binding agent exhibits a similar binding pattern to human sclerostin peptides in a “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay” as that exhibited by at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24, and/or neutralizes sclerostin. The non-CDR portion of the binding agent may be composed of amino acids, wherein the binding agent is a recombinant binding protein or a synthetic peptide, and the recombinant binding protein cross-blocks the binding of an antibody disclosed herein to sclerostin and/or neutralizes sclerostin. The non-CDR portion of the binding agent may be composed of amino acids, wherein the binding agent is a recombinant binding protein, and the recombinant binding protein exhibits a similar binding pattern to human sclerostin peptides in the human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay (described hereinbelow) as that exhibited by at least one of the antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24, and/or neutralizes sclerostin.

Where an antibody comprises one or more of CDR-H1, CDR-H2, CDR-H3, CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 as described above, it may be obtained by expression from a host cell containing DNA coding for these sequences. A DNA coding for each CDR sequence may be determined on the basis of the amino acid sequence of the CDR and synthesized together with any desired antibody variable region framework and constant region DNA sequences using oligonucleotide synthesis techniques, site-directed mutagenesis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques as appropriate. DNA coding for variable region frameworks and constant regions is widely available to those skilled in the art from genetic sequences databases such as GenBank®. Each of the above-mentioned CDRs will be typically located in a variable region framework at positions 31-35 (CDR-H1), 50-65 (CDR-H2) and 95-102 (CDR-H3) of the heavy chain and positions 24-34 (CDR-L1), 50-56 (CDR-L2) and 89-97 (CDR-L3) of the light chain according to the Kabat numbering system (Kabat et al., 1987 in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH, USA).

Once synthesized, the DNA encoding an antibody of the invention or fragment thereof may be propagated and expressed according to any of a variety of well-known procedures for nucleic acid excision, ligation, transformation, and transfection using any number of known expression vectors. Thus, in certain embodiments expression of an antibody fragment may be preferred in a prokaryotic host, such as Escherichia coli (see, e.g., Pluckthun et al., 1989 Methods Enzymol. 178:497-515). In certain other embodiments, expression of the antibody or a fragment thereof may be preferred in a eukaryotic host cell, including yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Pichia pastoris), animal cells (including mammalian cells) or plant cells. Examples of suitable animal cells include, but are not limited to, myeloma (such as a mouse NSO line), COS, CHO, or hybridoma cells. Examples of plant cells include tobacco, corn, soybean, and rice cells.

One or more replicable expression vectors containing DNA encoding an antibody variable and/or constant region may be prepared and used to transform an appropriate cell line, for example, a non-producing myeloma cell line, such as a mouse NSO line or a bacteria, such as E. coli, in which production of the antibody will occur. In order to obtain efficient transcription and translation, the DNA sequence in each vector should include appropriate regulatory sequences, particularly a promoter and leader sequence operatively linked to the variable domain sequence. Particular methods for producing antibodies in this way are generally well-known and routinely used. For example, basic molecular biology procedures are described by Maniatis et al. (Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1989; see also Maniatis et al, 3rd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, (2001)). DNA sequencing can be performed as described in Sanger et al. (PNAS 74:5463, (1977)) and the Amersham International plc sequencing handbook, and site directed mutagenesis can be carried out according to methods known in the art (Kramer et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:9441, (1984); Kunkel Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:488-92 (1985); Kunkel et al., Methods in Enzymol. 154:367-82 (1987); the Anglian Biotechnology Ltd handbook). Additionally, numerous publications describe techniques suitable for the preparation of antibodies by manipulation of DNA, creation of expression vectors, and transformation and culture of appropriate cells (Mountain A and Adair, J R in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews (ed. Tombs, M P, 10, Chapter 1, 1992, Intercept, Andover, UK); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, 1999, F. M. Ausubel (ed.), Wiley Interscience, New York).

Where it is desired to improve the affinity of antibodies according to the invention containing one or more of the above-mentioned CDRs can be obtained by a number of affinity maturation protocols including maintaining the CDRs (Yang et al., J. Mol. Biol., 254, 392-403, 1995), chain shuffling (Marks et al., Bio/Technology, 10, 779-783, 1992), use of mutation strains of E. coli. (Low et al., J. Mol. Biol., 250, 350-368, 1996), DNA shuffling (Patten et al., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 8, 724-733, 1997), phage display (Thompson et al., J. Mol. Biol., 256, 7-88, 1996) and sexual PCR (Crameri, et al., Nature, 391, 288-291, 1998). All of these methods of affinity maturation are discussed by Vaughan et al. (Nature Biotechnology, 16, 535-539, 1998).

Other antibodies according to the invention may be obtained by conventional immunization and cell fusion procedures as described herein and known in the art. Monoclonal antibodies of the invention may be generated using a variety of known techniques. In general, monoclonal antibodies that bind to specific antigens may be obtained by methods known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, Kohler et al., Nature 256:495, 1975; Coligan et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Immunology, 1:2.5.12.6.7 (John Wiley & Sons 1991); U.S. Pat. Nos. RE 32,011, 4,902,614, 4,543,439, and 4,411,993; Monoclonal Antibodies, Hybridomas: A New Dimension in Biological Analyses, Plenum Press, Kennett, McKearn, and Bechtol (eds.) (1980); and Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane (eds.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1988); Picksley et al., “Production of monoclonal antibodies against proteins expressed in E. coli,” in DNA Cloning 2: Expression Systems, 2nd Edition, Glover et al. (eds.), page 93 (Oxford University Press 1995)). Antibody fragments may be derived therefrom using any suitable standard technique such as proteolytic digestion, or optionally, by proteolytic digestion (for example, using papain or pepsin) followed by mild reduction of disulfide bonds and alkylation. Alternatively, such fragments may also be generated by recombinant genetic engineering techniques as described herein.

Monoclonal antibodies can be obtained by injecting an animal, for example, a rat, hamster, a rabbit, or preferably a mouse, including for example a transgenic or a knock-out, as known in the art, with an immunogen comprising human sclerostin of SEQ ID NO:1, or a fragment thereof, according to methods known in the art and described herein. The presence of specific antibody production may be monitored after the initial injection and/or after a booster injection by obtaining a serum sample and detecting the presence of an antibody that binds to human sclerostin or peptide using any one of several immunodetection methods known in the art and described herein. From animals producing the desired antibodies, lymphoid cells, most commonly cells from the spleen or lymph node, are removed to obtain B-lymphocytes. The B lymphocytes are then fused with a drug-sensitized myeloma cell fusion partner, preferably one that is syngeneic with the immunized animal and that optionally has other desirable properties (e.g., inability to express endogenous Ig gene products, e.g., P3X63-Ag 8.653 (ATCC No. CRL 1580); NSO, SP20) to produce hybridomas, which are immortal eukaryotic cell lines. The lymphoid (e.g., spleen) cells and the myeloma cells may be combined for a few minutes with a membrane fusion-promoting agent, such as polyethylene glycol or a nonionic detergent, and then plated at low density on a selective medium that supports the growth of hybridoma cells but not unfused myeloma cells. A preferred selection media is HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine). After a sufficient time, usually about one to two weeks, colonies of cells are observed. Single colonies are isolated, and antibodies produced by the cells may be tested for binding activity to human sclerostin, using any one of a variety of immunoassays known in the art and described herein. The hybridomas are cloned (e.g., by limited dilution cloning or by soft agar plaque isolation) and positive clones that produce an antibody specific to sclerostin are selected and cultured. The monoclonal antibodies from the hybridoma cultures may be isolated from the supernatants of hybridoma cultures. An alternative method for production of a murine monoclonal antibody is to inject the hybridoma cells into the peritoneal cavity of a syngeneic mouse, for example, a mouse that has been treated (e.g., pristane-primed) to promote formation of ascites fluid containing the monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies can be isolated and purified by a variety of well-established techniques. Such isolation techniques include affinity chromatography with Protein-A Sepharose, size-exclusion chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography (see, for example, Coligan at pages 2.7.1-2.7.12 and pages 2.9.1-2.9.3; Baines et al., “Purification of Immunoglobulin G (IgG),” in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 10, pages 79-104 (The Humana Press, Inc. 1992)). Monoclonal antibodies may be purified by affinity chromatography using an appropriate ligand selected based on particular properties of the antibody (e.g., heavy or light chain isotype, binding specificity, etc.). Examples of a suitable ligand, immobilized on a solid support, include Protein A, Protein G, an anticonstant region (light chain or heavy chain) antibody, an anti-idiotype antibody, and a TGF-beta binding protein, or fragment or variant thereof.

An antibody of the present invention may also be a human monoclonal antibody. Human monoclonal antibodies may be generated by any number of techniques with which those having ordinary skill in the art will be familiar. Such methods include, but are not limited to, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) transformation of human peripheral blood cells (e.g., containing B lymphocytes), in vitro immunization of human B cells, fusion of spleen cells from immunized transgenic mice carrying inserted human immunoglobulin genes, isolation from human immunoglobulin V region phage libraries, or other procedures as known in the art and based on the disclosure herein. For example, human monoclonal antibodies may be obtained from transgenic mice that have been engineered to produce specific human antibodies in response to antigenic challenge. Methods for obtaining human antibodies from transgenic mice are described, for example, by Green et al., Nature Genet. 7:13, 1994; Lonberg et al., Nature 368:856, 1994; Taylor et al., Int. Immun. 6:579, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,397; Bruggemann et al., 1997 Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 8:455-58; Jakobovits et al., 1995 Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 764:525-35. In this technique, elements of the human heavy and light chain locus are introduced into strains of mice derived from embryonic stem cell lines that contain targeted disruptions of the endogenous heavy chain and light chain loci (see also Bruggemann et al., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 8:455-58 (1997)). For example, human immunoglobulin transgenes may be mini-gene constructs, or transloci on yeast artificial chromosomes, which undergo B cell-specific DNA rearrangement and hypermutation in the mouse lymphoid tissue. Human monoclonal antibodies may be obtained by immunizing the transgenic mice, which may then produce human antibodies specific for sclerostin. Lymphoid cells of the immunized transgenic mice can be used to produce human antibody-secreting hybridomas according to the methods described herein. Polyclonal sera containing human antibodies may also be obtained from the blood of the immunized animals.

Another method for generating human antibodies of the invention includes immortalizing human peripheral blood cells by EBV transformation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,456. Such an immortalized B cell line (or lymphoblastoid cell line) producing a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to sclerostin can be identified by immunodetection methods as provided herein, for example, an ELISA, and then isolated by standard cloning techniques. The stability of the lymphoblastoid cell line producing an anti-sclerostin antibody may be improved by fusing the transformed cell line with a murine myeloma to produce a mouse-human hybrid cell line according to methods known in the art (see, e.g., Glasky et al., Hybridoma 8:377-89 (1989)). Still another method to generate human monoclonal antibodies is in vitro immunization, which includes priming human splenic B cells with human sclerostin, followed by fusion of primed B cells with a heterohybrid fusion partner. See, e.g., Boerner et al., 1991. J. Immunol. 147:86-95.

In certain embodiments, a B cell that is producing an anti-human sclerostin antibody is selected and the light chain and heavy chain variable regions are cloned from the B cell according to molecular biology techniques known in the art (WO 92/02551; U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,052; Babcook et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:7843-48 (1996)) and described herein. B cells from an immunized animal may be isolated from the spleen, lymph node, or peripheral blood sample by selecting a cell that is producing an antibody that specifically binds to sclerostin. B cells may also be isolated from humans, for example, from a peripheral blood sample. Methods for detecting single B cells that are producing an antibody with the desired specificity are well known in the art, for example, by plaque formation, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, in vitro stimulation followed by detection of specific antibody, and the like. Methods for selection of specific antibody-producing B cells include, for example, preparing a single cell suspension of B cells in soft agar that contains human sclerostin. Binding of the specific antibody produced by the B cell to the antigen results in the formation of a complex, which may be visible as an immunoprecipitate. After the B cells producing the desired antibody are selected, the specific antibody genes may be cloned by isolating and amplifying DNA or mRNA according to methods known in the art and described herein.

An additional method for obtaining antibodies of the invention is by phage display. See, e.g., Winter et al., 1994 Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12:433-55; Burton et al., 1994 Adv. Immunol. 57:191-280. Human or murine immunoglobulin variable region gene combinatorial libraries may be created in phage vectors that can be screened to select Ig fragments (Fab, Fv, sFv, or multimers thereof) that bind specifically to TGF-beta binding protein or variant or fragment thereof. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; Huse et al., 1989 Science 246:1275-81; Sastry et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5728-32 (1989); Alting-Mees et al., Strategies in Molecular Biology 3:1-9 (1990); Kang et al., 1991 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:4363-66; Hoogenboom et al., 1992 J. Molec. Biol. 227:381-388; Schlebusch et al., 1997 Hybridoma 16:47-52 and references cited therein. For example, a library containing a plurality of polynucleotide sequences encoding Ig variable region fragments may be inserted into the genome of a filamentous bacteriophage, such as M13 or a variant thereof, in frame with the sequence encoding a phage coat protein. A fusion protein may be a fusion of the coat protein with the light chain variable region domain and/or with the heavy chain variable region domain. According to certain embodiments, immunoglobulin Fab fragments may also be displayed on a phage particle (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,426).

Heavy and light chain immunoglobulin cDNA expression libraries may also be prepared in lambda phage, for example, using λImmunoZap™(H) and λImmunoZap™(L) vectors (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). Briefly, mRNA is isolated from a B cell population, and used to create heavy and light chain immunoglobulin cDNA expression libraries in the λImmunoZap(H) and λImmunoZap(L) vectors. These vectors may be screened individually or co-expressed to form Fab fragments or antibodies (see Huse et al., supra; see also Sastry et al., supra). Positive plaques may subsequently be converted to a non-lytic plasmid that allows high level expression of monoclonal antibody fragments from E. coli.

In one embodiment, in a hybridoma the variable regions of a gene expressing a monoclonal antibody of interest are amplified using nucleotide primers. These primers may be synthesized by one of ordinary skill in the art, or may be purchased from commercially available sources. (See, e.g., Stratagene (La Jolla, Calif.), which sells primers for mouse and human variable regions including, among others, primers for V_(Ha), V_(Hb), V_(Hc), V_(Hd), C_(Hl), V_(L) and C_(L) regions.) These primers may be used to amplify heavy or light chain variable regions, which may then be inserted into vectors such as ImmunoZAP™H or ImmunoZAP™L (Stratagene), respectively. These vectors may then be introduced into E. coli, yeast, or mammalian-based systems for expression. Large amounts of a single-chain protein containing a fusion of the V_(H) and V_(L) domains may be produced using these methods (see Bird et al., Science 242:423-426, 1988).

Once cells producing antibodies according to the invention have been obtained using any of the above-described immunization and other techniques, the specific antibody genes may be cloned by isolating and amplifying DNA or mRNA therefrom according to standard procedures as described herein. The antibodies produced therefrom may be sequenced and the CDRs identified and the DNA coding for the CDRs may be manipulated as described previously to generate other antibodies according to the invention.

Preferably the binding agents specifically bind to sclerostin. As with all binding agents and binding assays, one of skill in this art recognizes that the various moieties to which a binding agent should not detectably bind in order to be therapeutically effective and suitable would be exhaustive and impractical to list. Therefore, for a binding agent disclosed herein, the term “specifically binds” refers to the ability of a binding agent to bind to sclerostin, preferably human sclerostin, with greater affinity than it binds to an unrelated control protein. Preferably the control protein is hen egg white lysozyme. Preferably the binding agents bind to sclerostin with an affinity that is at least, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, or 10,000 times greater than the affinity for a control protein. A binding agent may have a binding affinity for human sclerostin of less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁷ M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁸ M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁹ M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻¹¹ M, or less than or equal to 1×10⁻¹² M.

Affinity may be determined by an affinity ELISA assay. In certain embodiments, affinity may be determined by a BIAcore assay. In certain embodiments, affinity may be determined by a kinetic method. In certain embodiments, affinity may be determined by an equilibrium/solution method. Such methods are described in further detail herein or known in the art.

Sclerostin binding agents of the present invention preferably modulate sclerostin function in the cell-based assay described herein and/or the in vivo assay described herein and/or bind to one or more of the epitopes described herein and/or cross-block the binding of one of the antibodies described in this application and/or are cross-blocked from binding sclerostin by one of the antibodies described in this application. Accordingly such binding agents can be identified using the assays described herein.

In certain embodiments, binding agents are generated by first identifying antibodies that bind to one more of the epitopes provided herein and/or neutralize in the cell-based and/or in vivo assays described herein and/or cross-block the antibodies described in this application and/or are cross-blocked from binding sclerostin by one of the antibodies described in this application. The CDR regions from these antibodies are then used to insert into appropriate biocompatible frameworks to generate sclerostin binding agents. The non-CDR portion of the binding agent may be composed of amino acids, or may be a non-protein molecule. The assays described herein allow the characterization of binding agents. Preferably the binding agents of the present invention are antibodies as defined herein.

It will be understood by one skilled in the art that some proteins, such as antibodies, may undergo a variety of posttranslational modifications. The type and extent of these modifications often depends on the host cell line used to express the protein as well as the culture conditions. Such modifications may include variations in glycosylation, methionine oxidation, diketopiperizine formation, aspartate isomerization and asparagine deamidation. A frequent modification is the loss of a carboxy-terminal basic residue (such as lysine or arginine) due to the action of carboxypeptidases (as described in Harris, R J. Journal of Chromatography 705:129-134, 1995).

Antibodies referred to as Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D and Ab-1 are described below. “HC” refers to the heavy chain and “LC” refers to the light chain. For some antibodies below, the CDRs are box shaded and the constant (C) regions are shown in bold italics.

Ab-D

Antibody D (also referred to herein as Ab-D and Mab-D) is a mouse antibody which exhibits high affinity binding to sclerostin. The BIAcore binding pattern of Ab-D is shown in FIG. 18.

The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-D light chain:

(SEQ ID NO: 7)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-D LC is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 8) 1 GATGTCCAGA TGATTCAGTC TCCATCCTCC CTGTCTGCAT CTTTGGGAGA 51 CATAGTCACC ATGACTTGCC AGGCAAGTCA GGGCACTAGC ATTAATTTAA 101 ACTGGTTTCA GCAAAAACCA GGGAAGGCTC CTAAGCTCCT GATCTATGGT 151 TCAAGCAACT TGGAAGATGG GGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG GCAGTAGATA 201 TGGGACAGAT TTCACTCTCA CCATCAGCAG CCTGGAGGAT GAAGATCTGG 251 CAACTTATTT CTGTCTACAA CATAGTTATC TCCCGTACAC GTTCGGAGGG 301 GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT GTTAG

The amino acid sequence of Ab-D LC including signal peptide is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 9) 1 MNTRAPAEFL GFLLLWFLGA RCDVQMIQSP SSLSASLGDI VTMTCQASQG 51 TSINLNWFQQ KPGKAPKLLI YGSSNLEDGV PSRFSGSRYG TDFTLTISSL 101 EDEDLATYFC LQHSYLPYTF GGGTKLEIKR ADAAPTVSIF PPSSEQLTSG 151 GASVVCFLNN FYPKDINVKW KIDGSERQNG VLNSWTDQDS KDSTYSMSST 201 LTLTKDEYER HNSYTCEATH KTSTSPIVKS FNRNEC

Nucleic acid sequence of Ab-D LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) 1 ATGAACACGA GGGCCCCTGC TGAGTTCCTT GGGTTCCTGT TGCTCTGGTT 51 TTTAGGTGCC AGATGTGATG TCCAGATGAT TCAGTCTCCA TCCTCCCTGT 101 CTGCATCTTT GGGAGACATA GTCACCATGA CTTGCCAGGC AAGTCAGGGC 151 ACTAGCATTA ATTTAAACTG GTTTCAGCAA AAACCAGGGA AGGCTCCTAA 201 GCTCCTGATC TATGGTTCAA GCAACTTGGA AGATGGGGTC CCATCAAGGT 251 TCAGTGGCAG TAGATATGGG ACAGATTTCA CTCTCACCAT CAGCAGCCTG 301 GAGGATGAAG ATCTGGCAAC TTATTTCTGT CTACAACATA GTTATCTCCC 351 GTACACGTTC GGAGGGGGGA CCAAGCTGGA AATAAAACGG GCTGATGCTG 401 CACCAACTGT ATCCATCTTC CCACCATCCA GTGAGCAGTT AACATCTGGA 451 GGTGCCTCAG TCGTGTGCTT CTTGAACAAC TTCTACCCCA AAGACATCAA 501 TGTCAAGTGG AAGATTGATG GCAGTGAACG ACAAAATGGC GTCCTGAACA 551 GTTGGACTGA TCAGGACAGC AAAGACAGCA CCTACAGCAT GAGCAGCACC 601 CTCACGTTGA CCAAGGACGA GTATGAACGA CATAACAGCT ATACCTGTGA 651 GGCCACTCAC AAGACATCAA CTTCACCCAT TGTCAAGAGC TTCAACAGGA 701 ATGAGTGTTA G

The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-D HC heavy chain is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 11)

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-D HC is:

(SEQ ID NO: 12) 1 GAGGTCCAGC TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTGGTGACGC CTGGGGCTTC 51 AGTGAAGATA TCTTGTAAGG CTTCTGGATA CACATTCACT GACCACTACA 101 TGAGCTGGGT GAAGCAGAGT CATGGAAAAA GCCITGAGTG GATTGGAGAT 151 ATTAATCCCT ATTCTGGTGA AACTACCTAC AACCAGAAGT TCAAGGGCAC 201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCTTCCAG TATAGCCTAC ATGGAGATCC 251 GCGGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC AAGAGATGAT 301 TACGACGCCT CTCCGTTTGC TTACTGGGGC CAAGGGACTC TGGTCACTGT 351 CTCTGCAGCC AAAACGACAC CCCCATCTGT CTATCCACTG GCCCCTGGAT 401 CTGCTGCCCA AACTAACTCC ATGGTGACCC TGGGATGCCT GGTCAAGGGC 451 TATTTCCCTG AGCCAGTGAC AGTGACCTGG AACTCTGGAT CCCTGTCCAG 501 CGGTGTGCAC ACCTTCCCAG CTGTCCTGCA GTCTGACCTC TACACTCTGA 551 GCAGCTCAGT GACTGTCCCC TCCAGCACCT GGCCCAGCGA GACCGTCACC 601 TGCAACGTTG CCCACCCGGC CAGCAGCACC AAGGTGGACA AGAAAATTGT 651 GCCCAGGGAT TGTGGTTGTA AGCCTTGCAT ATGTACAGTC CCAGAAGTAT 701 CATCTGTCTT CATCTTCCCC CCAAAGCCCA AGGATGTGCT CACCATTACT 751 CTGACTCCTA AGGTCACGTG TGTTGTGGTA GACATCAGCA AGGATGATCC 801 CGAGGTCCAG TTCAGCTGGT TTGTAGATGA TGTGGAGGTG CACACAGCTC 851 AGACGCAACC CCGGGAGGAG CAGTTCAACA GCACTTTCCG CTCAGTCAGT 901 GAACTTCCCA TCATGCACCA GGACTGGCTC AATGGCAAGG AGTTCAAATG 951 CAGGGTCAAC AGTCCAGCTT TCCCTGCCCC CATCGAGAAA ACCATCTCCA 1001 AAACCAAAGG CAGACCGAAG GCTCCACAGG TGTACACCAT TCCACCTCCC 1051 AAGGAGCAGA TGGCCAAGGA TAAAGTCAGT CTGACCTGCA TGATAACAGA 1101 CTTCTTCCCT GAAGACATTA CTGTGGAGTG GCAGTGGAAT GGGCAGCCAG 1151 CGGAGAACTA CAAGAACACT CAGCCCATCA TGGACACAGA TGGCTCTTAC 1201 TTCATCTACA GCAAGCTCAA TGTGCAGAAG AGCAACTGGG AGGCAGGAAA 1251 TACTTTCACC TGCTCTGTGT TACATGAGGG CCTGCACAAC CACCATACTG 1301 AGAAGAGCCT CTCCCACTCT CCTGGTAAAT GA

The amino acid sequence of Ab-D HC including signal peptide is:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) 1 MRCRWIFLFL LSGTAGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL VTPGASVKIS CKASGYTFTD 51 HYMSWVKQSH GKSLEWIGDI NPYSGETTYN QKFKGTATLT VDKSSSIAYM 101 EIRGLTSEDS AVYYCARDDY DASPFAYWGQ GTLVTVSAAK TTPPSVYPLA 151 PGSAAQTNSM VTLGCLVKGY FPEPVTVTWN SGSLSSGVHT FPAVLQSDLY 201 TLSSSVTVPS STWPSETVTC NVAHPASSTK VDKKIVPRDC GCKPCICTVP 251 EVSSVFIFPP KPKDVLTITL TPKVTCVVVD ISKDDPEVQF SWFVDDVEVH 301 TAQTQPREEQ FNSTFRSVSE LPIMHQDWLN GKEFKCRVNS PAFPAPIEKT 351 ISKTKGRPKA PQVYTIPPPK EQMAKDKVSL TCMITDFFPE DITVEWQWNG 401 QPAENYKNTQ PIMDTDGSYF IYSKLNVQKS NWEAGNTFTC SVLHEGLHNH 451 HTEKSLSHSP GK

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-D HC including signal peptide encoding sequence is:

(SEQ ID NO: 14) 1 ATGAGATGCA GGTGGATCTT TCTCTTTCTC CTGTCAGGAA CTGCAGGTGT 51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAGCTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTG GTGACGCCTG 101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATATCT TGTAAGGCTT CTGGATACAC ATTCACTGAC 151 CACTACATGA GCTGGGTGAA GCAGAGTCAT GGAAAAAGCC TTGAGTGGAT 201 TGGAGATATT AATCCCTATT CTGGTGAAAC TACCTACAAC CAGAAGTTCA 251 AGGGCACGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CTTCCAGTAT AGCCTACATG 301 GAGATCCGCG GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG 351 AGATGATTAC GACGCCTCTC CGTTTGCTTA CTGGGGCCAA GGGACTCTGG 401 TCACTGTCTC TGCAGCCAAA ACGACACCCC CATCTGTCTA TCCACTGGCC 451 CCTGGATCTG CTGCCCAAAC TAACTCCATG GTGACCCTGG GATGCCTGGT 501 CAAGGGCTAT TTCCCTGAGC CAGTGACAGT GACCTGGAAC TCTGGATCCC 551 TGTCCAGCGG TGTGCACACC TTCCCAGCTG TCCTGCAGTC TGACCTCTAC 601 ACTCTGAGCA GCTCAGTGAC TGTCCCCTCC AGCACCTGGC CCAGCGAGAC 651 CGTCACCTGC AACGTTGCCC ACCCGGCCAG CAGCACCAAG GTGGACAAGA 701 AAATTGTGCC CAGGGATTGT GGTTGTAAGC CTTGCATATG TACAGTCCCA 751 GAAGTATCAT CTGTCTTCAT CTTCCCCCCA AAGCCCAAGG ATGTGCTCAC 801 CATTACTCTG ACTCCTAAGG TCACGTGTGT TGTGGTAGAC ATCAGCAAGG 851 ATGATCCCGA GGTCCAGTTC AGCTGGTTTG TAGATGATGT GGAGGTGCAC 901 ACAGCTCAGA CGCAACCCCG GGAGGAGCAG TTCAACAGCA CTTTCCGCTC 951 AGTCAGTGAA CTTCCCATCA TGCACCAGGA CTGGCTCAAT GGCAAGGAGT 1001 TCAAATGCAG GGTCAACAGT CCAGCTTTCC CTGCCCCCAT CGAGAAAACC 1051 ATCTCCAAAA CCAAAGGCAG ACCGAAGGCT CCACAGGTGT ACACCATTCC 1101 ACCTCCCAAG GAGCAGATGG CCAAGGATAA AGTCAGTCTG ACCTGCATGA 1151 TAACAGACTT CTTCCCTGAA GACATTACTG TGGAGTGGCA GTGGAATGGG 1201 CAGCCAGCGG AGAACTACAA GAACACTCAG CCCATCATGG ACACAGATGG 1251 CTCTTACTTC ATCTACAGCA AGCTCAATGT GCAGAAGAGC AACTGGGAGG 1301 CAGGAAATAC TTTCACCTGC TCTGTGTTAC ATGAGGGCCT GCACAACCAC 1351 CATACTGAGA AGAGCCTCTC CCACTCTCCT GGTAAATGA

The CDR (complementarity determining region) sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-D are as follows:

CDR-H1: DHYMS (SEQ ID NO: 39) CDR-H2: DINPYSGETTYNQKFKG (SEQ ID NO: 40) CDR-H3: DDYDASPFAY (SEQ ID NO: 41)

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-D are:

CDR-L1: QASQGTSINLN (SEQ ID NO: 42) CDR-L2: GSSNLED (SEQ ID NO: 43) CDR-L3: LQHSYLPYT (SEQ ID NO: 44) Ab-C

Antibody C (also referred to herein as Ab-C and Mab-C) is a mouse antibody which exhibits high affinity binding to sclerostin. The BIAcore binding pattern of Ab-C is shown in FIG. 17. The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-C Light Chain is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 15)

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-C LC is:

(SEQ ID NO: 16)   1 GACATTGTGC TGACCCAATC TCCAGCTTCT TTGACTGTGT  CTCTAGGCCT  51 GAGGGCCACC ATCTCCTGCA AGGCCAGCCA AAGTGTTGAT  TATGATGGTG 101 ATAGTTATAT GAACTGGTAC CAGCAGAAAC CAGGACAGCC  ACCCAAACTC 151 CTCATCTATG CTGCATCCAA TCTAGAATCT GGGATCCCAG  CCAGGTTTAG 201 TGGCAATGGG TCTGGGACAG ACTTCACCCT CAACATCCAT  CCTGTGGAGG 251 AGGAGGATGC TGTAACCTAT TACTGTCAAC AAAGTAATGA  GGATCCGTGG 301 ACGTTCGGTG GAGGCACCAA GCTGGAAATC AAACGGGCTG  ATGCTGCACC 351 AACTGTATCC ATCTTCCCAC CATCCAGTGA GCAGTTAACA  TCTGGAGGTG 401 CCTCAGTCGT GTGCTTCTTG AACAACTTCT ACCCCAAAGA  CATCAATGTC 451 AAGTGGAAGA TTGATGGCAG TGAACGACAA AATGGCGTCC  TGAACAGTTG 501 GACTGATCAG GACAGCAAAG ACAGCACCTA CAGCATGAGC  AGCACCCTCA 551 CGTTGACCAA GGACGAGTAT GAACGACATA ACAGCTATAC  CTGTGAGGCC 601 ACTCACAAGA CATCAACTTC ACCCATTGTC AAGAGCTTCA  ACAGGAATGA 651 GTGTTAG

The amino acid sequence of Ab-C LC including signal peptide is:

(SEQ ID NO: 17)   1 METDTILLWV LLLWVPGSTG DIVLTQSPAS LTVSLGLRAT ISCKASQSVD  51 YDGDSYMNWY QQKPGQPPKL LIYAASNLES GIPARFSGNG SGTDFTLNIH 101 PVEEEDAVTY YCQQSNEDPW TFGGGTKLEI KRADAAPTVS IFPPSSEQLT 151 SGGASVVCFL NNFYPKDINV KWKIDGSERQ NGVLNSWTDQ DSKDSTYSMS 201 STLTLTKDEY ERHNSYTCEA THKTSTSPIV KSFNRNEC

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-C LC including signal peptide encoding sequence is:

(SEQ ID NO: 18)   1 ATGGAGACAG ACACAATCCT GCTATGGGTG CTGCTGCTCT GGGTTCCAGG  51 CTCCACTGGT GACATTGTGC TGACCCAATC TCCAGCTTCT TTGACTGTGT 101 CTCTAGGCCT GAGGGCCACC ATCTCCTGCA AGGCCAGCCA AAGTGTTGAT 151 TATGATGGTG ATAGTTATAT GAACTGGTAC CAGCAGAAAC CAGGACAGCC 201 ACCCAAACTC CTCATCTATG CTGCATCCAA TCTAGAATCT GGGATCCCAG 251 CCAGGTTTAG TGGCAATGGG TCTGGGACAG ACTTCACCCT CAACATCCAT 301 CCTGTGGAGG AGGAGGATGC TGTAACCTAT TACTGTCAAC AAAGTAATGA 351 GGATCCGTGG ACGTTCGGTG GAGGCACCAA GCTGGAAATC AAACGGGCTG 401 ATGCTGCACC AACTGTATCC ATCTTCCCAC CATCCAGTGA GCAGTTAACA 451 TCTGGAGGTG CCTCAGTCGT GTGCTTCTTG AACAACTTCT ACCCCAAAGA 501 CATCAATGTC AAGTGGAAGA TTGATGGCAG TGAACGACAA AATGGCGTCC 551 TGAACAGTTG GACTGATCAG GACAGCAAAG ACAGCACCTA CAGCATGAGC 601 AGCACCCTCA CGTTGACCAA GGACGAGTAT GAACGACATA ACAGCTATAC 651 CTGTGAGGCC ACTCACAAGA CATCAACTTC ACCCATTGTC AAGAGCTTCA 701 ACAGGAATGA GTGTTAG Ab-C Heavy Chain

The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-C HC is:

(SEQ ID NO: 19)

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-C HC is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 20)    1 GAGGTCCAGC TGCAACAATC TGGACCTGAG CTGGTGAAGC  CTGGGACTTC   51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGTAAGG CTTCTGGATA CACATTCACT  GACTGCTACA  101 TGAACTGGGT GAAGCAGAGC CATGGGAAGA GCCTTGAATG  GATTGGAGAT  151 ATTAATCCTT TCAACGGTGG TACTACCTAC AACCAGAAGT  TCAAGGGCAA  201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AATCCTCCAG CACAGCCTAC  ATGCAGCTCA  251 ACAGCCTGAC ATCTGACGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC  AAGATCCCAT  301 TATTACTTCG ATGGTAGAGT CCCTTGGGAT GCTATGGACT  ACTGGGGTCA  351 AGGAACCTCA GTCACCGTCT CCTCAGCCAA AACGACACCC  CCATCTGTCT  401 ATCCACTGGC CCCTGGATCT GCTGCCCAAA CTAACTCCAT  GGTGACCCTG  451 GGATGCCTGG TCAAGGGCTA TTTCCCTGAG CCAGTGACAG  TGACCTGGAA  501 CTCTGGATCC CTGTCCAGCG GTGTGCACAC CTTCCCAGCT  GTCCTGCAGT  551 CTGACCTCTA CACTCTGAGC AGCTCAGTGA CTGTCCCCTC  CAGCACCTGG  601 CCCAGCGAGA CCGTCACCTG CAACGTTGCC CACCCGGCCA  GCAGCACCAA  651 GGTGGACAAG AAAATTGTGC CCAGGGATTG TGGTTGTAAG  CCTTGCATAT  701 GTACAGTCCC AGAAGTATCA TCTGTCTTCA TCTTCCCCCC  AAAGCCCAAG  751 GATGTGCTCA CCATTACTCT GACTCCTAAG GTCACGTGTG  TTGTGGTAGA  801 CATCAGCAAG GATGATCCCG AGGTCCAGTT CAGCTGGTTT  GTAGATGATG  851 TGGAGGTGCA CACAGCTCAG ACGCAACCCC GGGAGGAGCA  GTTCAACAGC  901 ACTTTCCGCT CAGTCAGTGA ACTTCCCATC ATGCACCAGG  ACTGGCTCAA  951 TGGCAAGGAG TTCAAATGCA GGGTCAACAG TGCAGCTTTC  CCTGCCCCCA 1001 TCGAGAAAAC CATCTCCAAA ACCAAAGGCA GACCGAAGGC  TCCACAGGTG 1051 TACACCATTC CACCTCCCAA GGAGCAGATG GCCAAGGATA  AAGTCAGTCT 1101 GACCTGCATG ATAACAGACT TCTTCCCTGA AGACATTACT  GTGGAGTGGC 1151 AGTGGAATGG GCAGCCAGCG GAGAACTACA AGAACACTCA  GCCCATCATG 1201 GACACAGATG GCTCTTACTT CATCTACAGC AAGCTCAATG  TGCAGAAGAG 1251 CAACTGGGAG GCAGGAAATA CTTTCACCTG CTCTGTGTTA  CATGAGGGCC 1301 TGCACAACCA CCATACTGAG AAGAGCCTCT CCCACTCTCC  TGGTAAATGA

The amino acid sequence of Ab-C HC including signal peptide is:

(SEQ ID NO: 21)   1 MGWNWIFLFL LSGTAGVYSE VQLQQSGPEL VKPGTSVKMS CKASGYTFTD  51 CYMNWVKQSH GKSLEWIGDI NPFNGGTTYN QKFKGKATLT VDKSSSTAYM 101 QLNSLTSDDS AVYYCARSHY YFDGRVPWDA MDYWGQGTSV TVSSAKTTPP 151 SVYPLAPGSA AQTNSMVTLG CLVKGYFPEP VTVTWNSGSL SSGVHTFPAV 201 LQSDLYTLSS SVTVPSSTWP SETVTCNVAH PASSTKVDKK IVPRDCGCKP 251 CICTVPEVSS VFIFPPKPKD VLTITLTPKV TCVVVDISKD DPEVQFSWFV 301 DDVEVHTAQT QPREEQFNST FRSVSELPIM HQDWLNGKEF KCRVNSAAFP 351 APIEKTISKT KGRPKAPQVY TIPPPKEQMA KDKVSLTCMI TDFFPEDITV 401 EWQWNGQPAE NYKNTQPIMD TDGSYFIYSK LNVQKSNWEA GNTFTCSVLH 451 EGLHNHHTEK SLSHSPGK

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-C HC including signal peptide encoding sequence is:

(SEQ ID NO: 22)    1 ATGGGATGGA ACTGGATCTT TCTCTTCCTC TTGTCAGGAA CTGCAGGTGT   51 CTACTCTGAG GTCCAGCTGC AACAATCTGG ACCTGAGCTG GTGAAGCCTG  101 GGACTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGTAAGGCTT CTGGATACAC ATTCACTGAC  151 TGCTACATGA ACTGGGTGAA GCAGAGCCAT GGGAAGAGCC TTGAATGGAT  201 TGGAGATATT AATCCTTTCA ACGGTGGTAC TACCTACAAC CAGAAGTTCA  251 AGGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAAT CCTCCAGCAC AGCCTACATG  301 CAGCTCAACA GCCTGACATC TGACGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG  351 ATCCCATTAT TACTTCGATG GTAGAGTCCC TTGGGATGCT ATGGACTACT  401 GGGGTCAAGG AACCTCAGTC ACCGTCTCCT CAGCCAAAAC GACACCCCCA  451 TCTGTCTATC CACTGGCCCC TGGATCTGCT GCCCAAACTA ACTCCATGGT  501 GACCCTGGGA TGCCTGGTCA AGGGCTATTT CCCTGAGCCA GTGACAGTGA  551 CCTGGAACTC TGGATCCCTG TCCAGCGGTG TGCACACCTT CCCAGCTGTC  601 CTGCAGTCTG ACCTCTACAC TCTGAGCAGC TCAGTGACTG TCCCCTCCAG  651 CACCTGGCCC AGCGAGACCG TCACCTGCAA CGTTGCCCAC CCGGCCAGCA  701 GCACCAAGGT GGACAAGAAA ATTGTGCCCA GGGATTGTGG TTGTAAGCCT  751 TGCATATGTA CAGTCCCAGA AGTATCATCT GTCTTCATCT TCCCCCCAAA  801 GCCCAAGGAT GTGCTCACCA TTACTCTGAC TCCTAAGGTC ACGTGTGTTG  851 TGGTAGACAT CAGCAAGGAT GATCCCGAGG TCCAGTTCAG CTGGTTTGTA  901 GATGATGTGG AGGTGCACAC AGCTCAGACG CAACCCCGGG AGGAGCAGTT  951 CAACAGCACT TTCCGCTCAG TCAGTGAACT TCCCATCATG CACCAGGACT 1001 GGCTCAATGG CAAGGAGTTC AAATGCAGGG TCAACAGTGC AGCTTTCCCT 1051 GCCCCCATCG AGAAAACCAT CTCCAAAACC AAAGGCAGAC CGAAGGCTCC 1101 ACAGGTGTAC ACCATTCCAC CTCCCAAGGA GCAGATGGCC AAGGATAAAG 1151 TCAGTCTGAC CTGCATGATA ACAGACTTCT TCCCTGAAGA CATTACTGTG 1201 GAGTGGCAGT GGAATGGGCA GCCAGCGGAG AACTACAAGA ACACTCAGCC 1251 CATCATGGAC ACAGATGGCT CTTACTTCAT CTACAGCAAG CTCAATGTGC 1301 AGAAGAGCAA CTGGGAGGCA GGAAATACTT TCACCTGCTC TGTGTTACAT 1351 GAGGGCCTGC ACAACCACCA TACTGAGAAG AGCCTCTCCC ACTCTCCTGG 1401 TAAATGA

The CDR (complementarity determining region) sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-C are as follows:

CDR-H1: DCYMN (SEQ ID NO: 45) CDR-H2: DINPFNGGTTYNQKFKG (SEQ ID NO: 46) CDR-H3: SHYYFDGRVPWDAMDY (SEQ ID NO: 47)

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-C are:

CDR-L1: KASQSVDYDGDSYMN (SEQ ID NO: 48) CDR-L2: AASNLES (SEQ ID NO: 49) CDR-L3: QQSNEDPWT (SEQ ID NO: 50) Ab-A

Antibody A (also referred to herein as Ab-A and Mab-A) is a rabbit-mouse chimeric antibody which exhibits high affinity binding to sclerostin. The BIAcore binding pattern of Ab-A is shown in FIG. 15.

Ab-A Light Chain

The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-A LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 23)

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-A LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 24)   1 GCGCAAGTGC TGACCCAGAC TCCAGCCTCC GTGTCTGCAG CTGTGGGAGG  51 CACAGTCACC ATCAATTGCC AGTCCAGTCA GAGTGTTTAT GATAACAACT 101 GGTTAGCCTG GTTTCAGCAG AAACCAGGGC AGCCTCCCAA GCTCCTGATT 151 TATGATGCAT CCGATCTGGC ATCTGGGGTC CCATCGCGGT TCAGTGGCAG 201 TGGATCTGGG ACACAGTTCA CTCTCACCAT CAGCGGCGTG CAGTGTGCCG 251 ATGCTGCCAC TTACTACTGT CAAGGCGCTT ATAATGATGT TATTTATGCT 301 TTCGGCGGAG GGACCGAGGT GGTGGTCAAA CGTACGGATG CTGCACCAAC 351 TGTATCCATC TTCCCACCAT CCAGTGAGCA GTTAACATCT GGAGGTGCCT 401 CAGTCGTGTG CTTCTTGAAC AACTTCTACC CCAAAGACAT CAATGTCAAG 451 TGGAAGATTG ATGGCAGTGA ACGACAAAAT GGCGTCCTGA ACAGTTGGAC 501 TGATCAGGAC AGCAAAGACA GCACCTACAG CATGAGCAGC ACCCTCACGT 551 TGACCAAGGA CGAGTATGAA CGACATAACA GCTATACCTG TGAGGCCACT 601 CACAAGACAT CAACTTCACC CATTGTCAAG AGCTTCAACA GGAATGAGTG 651 TTAG

The amino acid sequence of Ab-A LC including signal peptide is:

(SEQ ID NO: 25)   1 MDTRAPTQLL GLLLLWLPGA TFAQVLTQTP ASVSAAVGGT VTINCQSSQS  51 VYDNNWLAWF QQKPGQPPKL LIYDASDLAS GVPSRFSGSG SGTQFTLTIS 101 GVQCADAATY YCQGAYNDVI YAFGGGTEVV VKRTDAAPTV SIFPPSSEQL 151 TSGGASVVCF LNNFYPKDIN VKWKIDGSER QNGVLNSWTD QDSKDSTYSM 201 SSTLTLTKDE YERHNSYTCE ATHKTSTSPI VKSFNRNEC

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-A LC including signal peptide encoding sequence is:

(SEQ ID NO: 26)   1 ATGGACACGA GGGCCCCCAC TCAGCTGCTG GGGCTCCTGC TGCTCTGGCT  51 CCCAGGTGCC ACATTTGCGC AAGTGCTGAC CCAGACTCCA GCCTCCGTGT 101 CTGCAGCTGT GGGAGGCACA GTCACCATCA ATTGCCAGTC CAGTCAGAGT 151 GTTTATGATA ACAACTGGTT AGCCTGGTTT CAGCAGAAAC CAGGGCAGCC 201 TCCCAAGCTC CTGATTTATG ATGCATCCGA TCTGGCATCT GGGGTCCCAT 251 CGCGGTTCAG TGGCAGTGGA TCTGGGACAC AGTTCACTCT CACCATCAGC 301 GGCGTGCAGT GTGCCGATGC TGCCACTTAC TACTGTCAAG GCGCTTATAA 351 TGATGTTATT TATGCTTTCG GCGGAGGGAC CGAGGTGGTG GTCAAACGTA 401 CGGATGCTGC ACCAACTGTA TCCATCTTCC CACCATCCAG TGAGCAGTTA 451 ACATCTGGAG GTGCCTCAGT CGTGTGCTTC TTGAACAACT TCTACCCCAA 501 AGACATCAAT GTCAAGTGGA AGATTGATGG CAGTGAACGA CAAAATGGCG 551 TCCTGAACAG TTGGACTGAT CAGGACAGCA AAGACAGCAC CTACAGCATG 601 AGCAGCACCC TCACGTTGAC CAAGGACGAG TATGAACGAC ATAACAGCTA 651 TACCTGTGAG GCCACTCACA AGACATCAAC TTCACCCATT GTCAAGAGCT 701 TCAACAGGAA TGAGTGTTAG

The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-A HC is:

(SEQ ID NO: 27)

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-A HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 28)    1 CAGTCGCTGG AGGAGTCCGG GGGTCGCCTG GTCACGCCTG GGACACCCCT   51 GACACTCACC TGCACAGCCT CTGGATTCTC CCTCAGTAGT TATTGGATGA  101 ACTGGGTCCG CCAGGCTCCA GGGGAGGGGC TGGAATGGAT CGGAACCATT  151 GATTCTGGTG GTAGGACGGA CTACGCGAGC TGGGCAAAAG GCCGATTCAC  201 CATCTCCAGA ACCTCGACTA CGATGGATCT GAAAATGACC AGTCTGACGA  251 CCGGGGACAC GGCCCGTTAT TTCTGTGCCA GAAATTGGAA CTTGTGGGGC  301 CAAGGCACCC TCGTCACCGT CTCGAGCGCT TCTACAAAGG GCCCATCTGT  351 CTATCCACTG GCCCCTGGAT CTGCTGCCCA AACTAACTCC ATGGTGACCC  401 TGGGATGCCT GGTCAAGGGC TATTTCCCTG AGCCAGTGAC AGTGACCTGG  451 AACTCTGGAT CCCTGTCCAG CGGTGTGCAC ACCTTCCCAG CTGTCCTGCA  501 GTCTGACCTC TACACTCTGA GCAGCTCAGT GACTGTCCCC TCCAGCACCT  551 GGCCCAGCGA GACCGTCACC TGCAACGTTG CCCACCCGGC CAGCAGCACC  601 AAGGTGGACA AGAAAATTGT GCCCAGGGAT TGTGGTTGTA AGCCTTGCAT  651 ATGTACAGTC CCAGAAGTAT CATCTGTCTT CATCTTCCCC CCAAAGCCCA  701 AGGATGTGCT CACCATTACT CTGACTCCTA AGGTCACGTG TGTTGTGGTA  751 GACATCAGCA AGGATGATCC CGAGGTCCAG TTCAGCTGGT TTGTAGATGA  801 TGTGGAGGTG CACACAGCTC AGACGCAACC CCGGGAGGAG CAGTTCAACA  851 GCACTTTCCG CTCAGTCAGT GAACTTCCCA TCATGCACCA GGACTGGCTC  901 AATGGCAAGG AGTTCAAATG CAGGGTCAAC AGTGCAGCTT TCCCTGCCCC  951 CATCGAGAAA ACCATCTCCA AAACCAAAGG CAGACCGAAG GCTCCACAGG 1001 TGTACACCAT TCCACCTCCC AAGGAGCAGA TGGCCAAGGA TAAAGTCAGT 1051 CTGACCTGCA TGATAACAGA CTTCTTCCCT GAAGACATTA CTGTGGAGTG 1101 GCAGTGGAAT GGGCAGCCAG CGGAGAACTA CAAGAACACT CAGCCCATCA 1151 TGGACACAGA TGGCTCTTAC TTCGTCTACA GCAAGCTCAA TGTGCAGAAG 1201 AGCAACTGGG AGGCAGGAAA TACTTTCACC TGCTCTGTGT TACATGAGGG 1251 CCTGCACAAC CACCATACTG AGAAGAGCCT CTCCCACTCT CCTGGTAAAT 1301 GA

The amino acid sequence of the Ab-A HC including signal peptide is:

(SEQ ID NO: 29)   1 METGLRWLLL VAVLKGVHCQ SLEESGGRLV TPGTPLTLTC TASGFSLSSY  51 WMNWVRQAPG EGLEWIGTID SGGRTDYASW AKGRFTISRT STTMDLKMTS 101 LTTGDTARYF CARNWNLWGQ GTLVTVSSAS TKGPSVYPLA PGSAAQTNSM 151 VTLGCLVKGY FPEPVTVTWN SGSLSSGVHT FPAVLQSDLY TLSSSVTVPS 201 STWPSETVTC NVAHPASSTK VDKKIVPRDC GCKPCICTVP EVSSVFIFPP 251 KPKDVLTITL TPKVTCVVVD ISKDDPEVQF SWFVDDVEVH TAQTQPREEQ 301 FNSTFRSVSE LPIMHQDWLN GKEFKCRVNS AAFPAPIEKT ISKTKGRPKA 351 PQVYTIPPPK EQMAKDKVSL TCMITDFFPE DITVEWQWNG QPAENYKNTQ 401 PIMNTNGSYF VYSKLNVQKS NWEAGNTFTC SVLHEGLHNH HTEKSLSHSP 451 GK

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-A HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 30)    1 ATGGAGACTG GGCTGCGCTG GCTTCTCCTG GTCGCTGTGC TCAAAGGTGT   51 CCACTGTCAG TCGCTGGAGG AGTCCGGGGG TCGCCTGGTC ACGCCTGGGA  101 CACCCCTGAC ACTCACCTGC ACAGCCTCTG GATTCTCCCT CAGTAGTTAT  151 TGGATGAACT GGGTCCGCCA GGCTCCAGGG GAGGGGCTGG AATGGATCGG  201 AACCATTGAT TCTGGTGGTA GGACGGACTA CGCGAGCTGG GCAAAAGGCC  251 GATTCACCAT CTCCAGAACC TCGACTACGA TGGATCTGAA AATGACCAGT  301 CTGACGACCG GGGACACGGC CCGTTATTTC TGTGCCAGAA ATTGGAACTT  351 GTGGGGCCAA GGCACCCTCG TCACCGTCTC GAGCGCTTCT ACAAAGGGCC  401 CATCTGTCTA TCCACTGGCC CCTGGATCTG CTGCCCAAAC TAACTCCATG  451 GTGACCCTGG GATGCCTGGT CAAGGGCTAT TTCCCTGAGC CAGTGACAGT  501 GACCTGGAAC TCTGGATCCC TGTCCAGCGG TGTGCACACC TTCCCAGCTG  551 TCCTGCAGTC TGACCTCTAC ACTCTGAGCA GCTCAGTGAC TGTCCCCTCC  601 AGCACCTGGC CCAGCGAGAC CGTCACCTGC AACGTTGCCC ACCCGGCCAG  651 CAGCACCAAG GTGGACAAGA AAATTGTGCC CAGGGATTGT GGTTGTAAGC  701 CTTGCATATG TACAGTCCCA GAAGTATCAT CTGTCTTCAT CTTCCCCCCA  751 AAGCCCAAGG ATGTGCTCAC CATTACTCTG ACTCCTAAGG TCACGTGTGT  801 TGTGGTAGAC ATCAGCAAGG ATGATCCCGA GGTCCAGTTC AGCTGGTTTG  851 TAGATGATGT GGAGGTGCAC ACAGCTCAGA CGCAACCCCG GGAGGAGCAG  901 TTCAACAGCA CTTTCCGCTC AGTCAGTGAA CTTCCCATCA TGCACCAGGA  951 CTGGCTCAAT GGCAAGGAGT TCAAATGCAG GGTCAACAGT GCAGCTTTCC 1001 CTGCCCCCAT CGAGAAAACC ATCTCCAAAA CCAAAGGCAG ACCGAAGGCT 1051 CCACAGGTGT ACACCATTCC ACCTCCCAAG GAGCAGATGG CCAAGGATAA 1101 AGTCAGTCTG ACCTGCATGA TAACAGACTT CTTCCCTGAA GACATTACTG 1151 TGGAGTGGCA GTGGAATGGG CAGCCAGCGG AGAACTACAA GAACACTCAG 1201 CCCATCATGG ACACAGATGG CTCTTACTTC GTCTACAGCA AGCTCAATGT 1251 GCAGAAGAGC AACTGGGAGG CAGGAAATAC TTTCACCTGC TCTGTG1TAC 1301 ATGAGGGCCT GCACAACCAC CATACTGAGA AGAGCCTCTC CCACTCTCCT 1351 GGTAAATGA

The CDR (complementarity determining region) sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-A are as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 51) CDR-H1: SYWMN (SEQ ID NO: 52) CDR-H2: TIDSGGRTDYASWAKG (SEQ ID NO: 53) CDR-H3: NWNL

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-A are:

(SEQ ID NO: 54) CDR-L1: QSSQSVYDNNWLA (SEQ ID NO: 55) CDR-L2: DASDLAS (SEQ ID NO: 56) CDR-L3: QGAYNDVIYA

Ab-A was humanized, and is referred to as Antibody 1 (also referred to herein as Ab-1), having the following sequences:

The nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-1 LC variable region including signal peptide encoding sequence is

(SEQ ID NO: 74) ATGGACACGAGGGCCCCCACTCAGCTGCTGGGGCTCCTGCTGCTCTGGCT CCCAGGTGCCACATTTGCTCAAGTTCTGACCCAGAGTCCAAGCAGTCTCT CCGCCAGCGTAGGCGATCGTGTGACTATTACCTGTCAATCTAGTCAGAGC GTGTATGATAACAATTGGCTGGCGTGGTACCAGCAAAAACCGGGCAAAGC CCCGAAGCTGCTCATCTATGACGCGTCCGATCTGGCTAGCGGTGTGCCAA GCCGTTTCAGTGGCAGTGGCAGCGGTACTGACTTTACCCTCACAATTTCG TCTCTCCAGCCGGAAGATTTCGCCACTTACTATTGTCAAGGTGCTTACAA CGATGTGATTTATGCCTTCGGTCAGGGCACTAAAGTAGAAATCAAACGT

The amino acid sequence of Ab-1 LC variable region including signal peptide is:

(SEQ ID NO: 75)

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-1 HC variable region including signal peptide encoding sequence is:

(SEQ ID NO: 76) ATGGAGACTGGGCTGCGCTGGCTTCTCCTGGTCGCTGTGCTCAAAGGTGT CCACTGTGAGGTGCAGCTGTTGGAGTCTGGAGGCGGGCTTGTCCAGCCTG GAGGGAGCCTGCGTCTCTCTTGTGCAGCAAGCGGCTTCAGCTTATCCTCT TACTGGATGAATTGGGTGCGGCAGGCACCTGGGAAGGGCCTGGAGTGGGT GGGCACCATTGATTCCGGAGGCCGTACAGACTACGCGTCTTGGGCAAAGG GCCGTTTCACCATTTCCCGCGACAACTCCAAAAATACCATGTACCTCCAG ATGAACTCTCTCCGCGCAGAGGACACAGCACGTTATTACTGTGCACGCAA CTGGAATCTGTGGGGTCAAGGTACTCTTGTAACAGTCTCGAGC Amino acid sequence of Ab-1 HC variable region including signal peptide

(SEQ ID NO: 77)

The CDR (complementarity determining region) sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-1 are as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 51) CDR-H1: SYWMN (SEQ ID NO: 52) CDR-H2: TIDSGGRTDYASWAKG (SEQ ID NO: 53) CDR-H3: NWNL

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-1 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 54) CDR-L1: QSSQSVYDNNWLA (SEQ ID NO: 55) CDR-L2: DASDLAS (SEQ ID NO: 56) CDR-L3: QGAYNDVIYA Ab-B

Antibody B (also referred to herein as Ab-B and Mab-B) is a mouse antibody which exhibits high affinity binding to sclerostin. The BIAcore binding pattern of Ab-B is shown in FIG. 16.

Ab-B Light Chain

The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-B LC is:

(SEQ ID NO: 31)

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-B LC is:

(SEQ ID NO: 32)   1 CAAATTGTTC TCACCCAGTC TCCAACAATC GTGTCTGCAT CTCCAGGGGA  51 GAAGGTCACC CTAATCTGCA GTGCCAGTTC AAGTGTAAGT TTCGTGGACT 101 GGTTCCAGCA GAAGCCAGGC ACTTCTCCCA AACGCTGGAT TTACAGAACA 151 TCCAACCTGG GTTTTGGAGT CCCTGCTCGC TTCAGTGGCG GTGGATCTGG 201 GACCTCTCAC TCTCTCACAA TCAGCCGAAT GGAGGCTGAA GATGCTGCCA 251 CTTATTACTG CCAGCAAAGG AGTACTTACC CACCCACGTT CGGTGCTGGG 301 ACCAAGCTGG AACTGAAACG GGCTGATGCT GCACCAACTG TATCCATCTT 351 CCCACCATCC AGTGAGCAGT TAACATCTGG AGGTGCCTCA GTCGTGTGCT 401 TCTTGAACAA CTTCTACCCC AAAGACATCA ATGTCAAGTG GAAGATTGAT 451 GGCAGTGAAC GACAAAATGG CGTCCTGAAC AGTTGGACTG ATCAGGACAG 501 CAAAGACAGC ACCTACAGCA TGAGCAGCAC CCTCACGTTG ACCAAGGACG 551 AGTATGAACG ACATAACAGC TATACCTGTG AGGCCACTCA CAAGACATCA 601 ACTTCACCCA TTGTCAAGAG CTTCAACAGG AATGAGTGTT AG

The amino acid sequence of Ab-B LC including signal peptide is:

(SEQ ID NO: 33)   1 MHFQVQIFSF LLISASVIVS RGQIVLTQSP TIVSASPGEK VTLICSASSS  51 VSFVDWFQQK PGTSPKRWIY RTSNLGFGVP ARFSGGGSGT SHSLTISRME 101 AEDAATYYCQ QRSTYPPTFG AGTKLELKRA DAAPTVSIFP PSSEQLTSGG 151 ASVVCFLNNF YPKDINVKWK IDGSERQNGV LNSWTDQDSK DSTYSMSSTL 201 TLTKDEYERH NSYTCEATHK TSTSPIVKSF NRNEC

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-B LC including signal peptide encoding sequence is:

(SEQ ID NO: 34)   1 ATGCATTTTC AAGTGCAGAT TTTCAGCTTC CTGCTAATCA GTGCCTCAGT  51 CATAGTGTCC AGAGGGCAAA TTGTTCTCAC CCAGTCTCCA ACAATCGTGT 101 CTGCATCTCC AGGGGAGAAG GTCACCCTAA TCTGCAGTGC CAGTTCAAGT 151 GTAAGTTTCG TGGACTGGTT CCAGCAGAAG CCAGGCACTT CTCCCAAACG 201 CTGGATTTAC AGAACATCCA ACCTGGGTTT TGGAGTCCCT GCTCGCTTCA 251 GTGGCGGTGG ATCTGGGACC TCTCACTCTC TCACAATCAG CCGAATGGAG 301 GCTGAAGATG CTGCCACTTA TTACTGCCAG CAAAGGAGTA CTTACCCACC 351 CACGTTCGGT GCTGGGACCA AGCTGGAACT GAAACGGGCT GATGCTGCAC 401 CAACTGTATC CATCTTCCCA CCATCCAGTG AGCAGTTAAC ATCTGGAGGT 451 GCCTCAGTCG TGTGCTTCTT GAACAACTTC TACCCCAAAG ACATCAATGT 501 CAAGTGGAAG ATTGATGGCA GTGAACGACA AAATGGCGTC CTGAACAGTT 551 GGACTGATCA GGACAGCAAA GACAGCACCT ACAGCATGAG CAGCACCCTC 601 ACGTTGACCA AGGACGAGTA TGAACGACAT AACAGCTATA CCTGTGAGGC 651 CACTCACAAG ACATCAACTT CACCCATTGT CAAGAGCTTC AACAGGAATG 701 AGTGTTAG Ab-B Heavy Chain

The amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-B HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 35)

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-B HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 36)    1 CAGGTTACTC TGAAAGAGTC TGGCCCTGGG ATATTGCAGC CCTCCCAGAC   51 CCTCAGTCTG ACTTGTTCTT TCTCTGGGTT TTCACTGAGC ACTTCTGGTA  101 TGGGTGTAGG CTGGATTCGT CACCCATCAG GGAAGAATCT GGAGTGGCTG  151 GCACACATTT GGTGGGATGA TGTCAAGCGC TATAACCCAG TCCTGAAGAG  201 CCGACTGACT ATCTCCAAGG ATACCTCCAA CAGCCAGGTA TTCCTCAAGA  251 TCGCCAATGT GGACACTGCA GATACTGCCA CATACTACTG TGCTCGAATA  301 GAGGACTTTG ATTACGACGA GGAGTATTAT GCTATGGACT ACTGGGGTCA  351 AGGAACCTCA GTCATCGTCT CCTCAGCCAA AACGACACCC CCATCTGTCT  401 ATCCACTGGC CCCTGGATCT GCTGCCCAAA CTAACTCCAT GGTGACCCTG  451 GGATGCCTGG TCAAGGGCTA TTTCCCTGAG CCAGTGACAG TGACCTGGAA  501 CTCTGGATCC CTGTCCAGCG GTGTGCACAC CTTCCCAGCT GTCCTGCAGT  551 CTGACCTCTA CACTCTGAGC AGCTCAGTGA CTGTCCCCTC CAGCACCTGG  601 CCCAGCGAGA CCGTCACCTG CAACGTTGCC CACCCGGCCA GCAGCACCAA  651 GGTGGACAAG AAAATTGTGC CCAGGGATTG TGGTTGTAAG CCTTGCATAT  701 GTACAGTCCC AGAAGTATCA TCTGTCTTCA TCTTCCCCCC AAAGCCCAAG  751 GATGTGCTCA CCATTACTCT GACTCCTAAG GTCACGTGTG TTGTGGTAGA  801 CATCAGCAAG GATGATCCCG AGGTCCAGTT CAGCTGGTTT GTAGATGATG  851 TGGAGGTGCA CACAGCTCAG ACGCAACCCC GGGAGGAGCA GTTCAACAGC  901 ACTTTCCGCT CAGTCAGTGA ACTTCCCATC ATGCACCAGG ACTGGCTCAA  951 TGGCAAGGAG TTCAAATGCA GGGTCAACAG TGCAGCTTTC CCTGCCCCCA 1001 TCGAGAAAAC CATCTCCAAA ACCAAAGGCA GACCGAAGGC TCCACAGGTG 1051 TACACCATTC CACCTCCCAA GGAGCAGATG GCCAAGGATA AAGTCAGTCT 1101 GACCTGCATG ATAACAGACT TCTTCCCTGA AGACATTACT GTGGAGTGGC 1151 AGTGGAATGG GCAGCCAGCG GAGAACTACA AGAACACTCA GCCCATCATG 1201 GACACAGATG GCTCTTACTT CGTCTACAGC AAGCTCAATG TGCAGAAGAG 1251 CAACTGGGAG GCAGGAAATA CTTTCACCTG CTCTGTGTTA CATGAGGGCC 1301 TGCACAACCA CCATACTGAG AAGAGCCTCT CCCACTCTCC TGGTAAATGA

The amino acid sequence of Ab-B HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 37)   1 MGRLTSSFLL LIVPAYVLSQ VTLKESGPGI LQPSQTLSLT CSFSGFSLST  51 SGMGVGWIRH PSGKNLEWLA HIWWDDVKRY NPVLKSRLTI SKDTSNSQVF 101 LKIANVDTAD TATYYCARIE DFDYDEEYYA MDYWGQGTSV IVSSAKTTPP 151 SVYPLAPGSA AQTNSMVTLG CLVKGYFPEP VTVTWNSGSL SSGVHTFPAV 201 LQSDLYTLSS SVTVPSSTWP SETVTCNVAH PASSTKVDKK IVPRDCGCKP 251 CICTVPEVSS VFIFPPKPKD VLTITLTPKV TCVVVDISKD DPEVQFSWFV 301 DDVEVHTAQT QPREEQFNST FRSVSELPIM HQDWLNGKEF KCRVNSAAFP 351 APIEKTISKT KGRPKAPQVY TIPPPKEQMA KDKVSLTCMI TDFFPEDITV 401 EWQWNGQPAE NYKNTQPIMD TDGSYFVYSK LNVQKSNWEA GNTFTCSVLH 451 EGLHNHHTEK SLSHSPGK

The nucleic acid sequence of Ab-B HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 38)    1 ATGGGCAGGC TTACTTCTTC ATTCCTGCTA CTGATTGTCC CTGCATATGT   51 CCTGTCCCAG GTTACTCTGA AAGAGTCTGG CCCTGGGATA TTGCAGCCCT  101 CCCAGACCCT CAGTCTGACT TGTTCTTTCT CTGGGTTTTC ACTGAGCACT  151 TCTGGTATGG GTGTAGGCTG GATTCGTCAC CCATCAGGGA AGAATCTGGA  201 GTGGCTGGCA CACATTTGGT GGGATGATGT CAAGCGCTAT AACCCAGTCC  251 TGAAGAGCCG ACTGACTATC TCCAAGGATA CCTCCAACAG CCAGGTATTC  301 CTCAAGATCG CCAATGTGGA CACTGCAGAT ACTGCCACAT ACTACTGTGC  351 TCGAATAGAG GACTTTGATT ACGACGAGGA GTATTATGCT ATGGACTACT  401 GGGGTCAAGG AACCTCAGTC ATCGTCTCCT CAGCCAAAAC GACACCCCCA  451 TCTGTCTATC CACTGGCCCC TGGATCTGCT GCCCAAACTA ACTCCATGGT  501 GACCCTGGGA TGCCTGGTCA AGGGCTATTT CCCTGAGCCA GTGACAGTGA  551 CCTGGAACTC TGGATCCCTG TCCAGCGGTG TGCACACCTT CCCAGCTGTC  601 CTGCAGTCTG ACCTCTACAC TCTGAGCAGC TCAGTGACTG TCCCCTCCAG  651 CACCTGGCCC AGCGAGACCG TCACCTGCAA CGTTGCCCAC CCGGCCAGCA  701 GCACCAAGGT GGACAAGAAA ATTGTGCCCA GGGATTGTGG TTGTAAGCCT  751 TGCATATGTA CAGTCCCAGA AGTATCATCT GTCTTCATCT TCCCCCCAAA  801 GCCCAAGGAT GTGCTCACCA TTACTCTGAC TCCTAAGGTC ACGTGTGTTG  851 TGGTAGACAT CAGCAAGGAT GATCCCGAGG TCCAGTTCAG CTGGTTTGTA  901 GATGATGTGG AGGTGCACAC AGCTCAGACG CAACCCCGGG AGGAGCAGTT  951 CAACAGCACT TTCCGCTCAG TCAGTGAACT TCCCATCATG CACCAGGACT 1001 GGCTCAATGG CAAGGAGTTC AAATGCAGGG TCAACAGTGC AGCTTTCCCT 1051 GCCCCCATCG AGAAAACCAT CTCCAAAACC AAAGGCAGAC CGAAGGCTCC 1101 ACAGGTGTAC ACCATTCCAC CTCCCAAGGA GCAGATGGCC AAGGATAAAG 1151 TCAGTCTGAC CTGCATGATA ACAGACTTCT TCCCTGAAGA CATTACTGTG 1201 GAGTGGCAGT GGAATGGGCA GCCAGCGGAG AACTACAAGA ACACTCAGCC 1251 CATCATGGAC ACAGATGGCT CTTACTTCGT CTACAGCAAG CTCAATGTGC 1301 AGAAGAGCAA CTGGGAGGCA GGAAATACTT TCACCTGCTC TGTGTTACAT 1351 GAGGGCCTGC ACAACCACCA TACTGAGAAG AGCCTCTCCC ACTCTCCTGG 1401 TAAATGA

The CDR (complementarity determining region) sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-B are as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 57) CDR-H1: TSGMGVG (SEQ ID NO: 58) CDR-H2: HIWWDDVKRYNPVLKS (SEQ ID NO: 59) CDR-H3: EDFDYDEEYYAMDY

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-B are:

(SEQ ID NO: 60) CDR-L1: SASSSVSFVD (SEQ ID NO: 61) CDR-L2: RTSNLGF (SEQ ID NO: 62) CDR-L3: QQRSTYPPT

Antibodies disclosed herein bind to regions of human sclerostin which are important for the in vivo activity of the protein. Binding of an antibody to sclerostin can be correlated with increases in, for example, the bone mineral density achieved by use of the antibody in vivo such as described in Examples 5 and 9 (mice) and Example 12 (monkey). Increases in at least one of bone formation, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone quality and bone strength can also be achieved by use of the antibody in vivo such as described in Examples 5 and 9 (mice) and Example 12 (monkey). Since the binding of an antibody to sclerostin is primarily determined by its CDR sequences, an antibody for practicing the invention may be generated with all or some of the disclosed CDR sequences in an appropriate framework, wherein the antibody retains the ability to bind specifically to sclerostin, and can be expected to achieve increases in, for example, bone mineral density. Such antibodies are useful in the treatment of human or animal conditions that are caused by, associated with, or result in at least one of low bone formation, low bone mineral density, low bone mineral content, low bone mass, low bone quality and low bone strength. Methods of constructing and expressing antibodies and fragments thereof comprising CDR's of the present invention are known to those of skill in the art.

The present invention therefore relates in one embodiment to an isolated antibody, including Ab-A, or an antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to sclerostin and wherein the variable domain of the heavy chain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:51 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:52 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:53 for CDR-H3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a heavy chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:51 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:52 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:53 for CDR-H3.

When in antibodies of the invention a light chain is present the light chain may be any suitable complementary chain and may in particular be selected from a light chain wherein the variable domain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:54 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:55 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:56 for CDR-L3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a light chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:54 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:55 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:56 for CDR-L3.

The present invention further relates to an isolated antibody, including Ab-B, or an antigen binding fragment hereof, which specifically binds to sclerostin and wherein the variable domain of the heavy chain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:57 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:58 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:59 for CDR-H3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a heavy chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:57 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:58 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:59 for CDR-H3.

When in antibodies of the invention a light chain is present the light chain may be any suitable complementary chain and may in particular be selected from a light chain wherein the variable domain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:60 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:61 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:62 for CDR-L3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a light chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:60 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:61 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:62 for CDR-L3.

The present invention still further relates to an isolated antibody, including Ab-C, or an antigen binding fragment hereof, which specifically binds to sclerostin and wherein the variable domain of the heavy chain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:45 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:46 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:47 for CDR-H3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a heavy chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:45 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:46 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:47 for CDR-H3.

When in antibodies of the invention a light chain is present the light chain may be any suitable complementary chain and may in particular be selected from a light chain wherein the variable domain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:48 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:49 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:50 for CDR-L3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a light chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:48 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:49 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:50 for CDR-L3.

The present invention also relates to an isolated antibody, including Ab-D, or an antigen binding fragment hereof, which specifically binds to sclerostin and wherein the variable domain of the heavy chain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:39 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:40 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:41 for CDR-H3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a heavy chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:39 for CDR-H1, SEQ ID NO:40 for CDR-H2 and SEQ ID NO:41 for CDR-H3.

When in antibodies of the invention a light chain is present the light chain may be any suitable complementary chain and may in particular be selected from a light chain wherein the variable domain comprises at least one CDR having the sequences given in SEQ ID NO:42 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:43 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:44 for CDR-L3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may comprise a light chain variable domain in which the CDRs consist of at least one of the peptides of SEQ ID NO:42 for CDR-L1, SEQ ID NO:43 for CDR-L2 and SEQ ID NO:44 for CDR-L3.

Additional anti-sclerostin antibodies are described below. For some of the amino acid sequences the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) are boxed-shaded and the constant regions are in bold-italics.

Ab-2

The sequences of the Antibody 2 (also referred to as Ab-2) LC and HC are as follows:

Ab-2 Light Chain:

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-2 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 117)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-2 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 118)   1 CAAATTGTTC TCTCCCAGTC TCCAGCAATC CTGTCTACAT CTCCAGGGGA  51 GAAGGTCACA ATGACTTGCA GGGCCAGCTC AAGTGTATAT TACATGCACT 101 GGTACCAGCA GAAGCCAGGA TCCTCCCCCA AACCCTGGAT TTATGCCACA 151 TCCAACCTGG CTTCTGGAGT CCCTGTTCGC TTCAGTGGCA GTGGGTCTGG 201 GACCTCTTAC TCTCTCACAA TCACCAGAGT GGAGGCTGAA GATGCTGCCA 251 CTTATTACTG CCAGCAGTGG AGTAGTGACC CACTCACGTT CGGTGCTGGG 301 ACCAAGCTGG AGCTGAAACG GGCTGATGCT GCACCAACTG TATCCATCTT 351 CCCACCATCC AGTGAGCAGT TAACATCTGG AGGTGCCTCA GTCGTGTGCT 401 TCTTGAACAA CTTCTACCCC AAAGACATCA ATGTCAAGTG GAAGATTGAT 451 GGCAGTGAAC GACAAAATGG CGTCCTGAAC AGTTGGACTG ATCAGGACAG 501 CAAAGACAGC ACCTACAGCA TGAGCAGCAC CCTCACGTTG ACCAAGGACG 551 AGTATGAACG ACATAACAGC TATACCTGTG AGGCCACTCA CAAGACATCA 601 ACTTCACCCA TTGTCAAGAG CTTCAACAGG AATGAGTGTT AG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-2 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 119)   1 MDFQVQIFSF LLISASVIMS RGQIVLSQSP AILSTSPGEK VTMTCRASSS  51 VYYMHWYQQK PGSSPKPWIY ATSNLASGVP VRFSGSGSGT SYSLTITRVE 101 AEDAATYYCQ QWSSDPLTFG AGTKLELKRA DAAPTVSIFP PSSEQLTSGG 151 ASVVCFLNNF YPKDINVKWK IDGSERQNGV LNSWTDQDSK DSTYSMSSTL 201 TLTKDEYERH NSYTCEATHK TSTSPIVKSF NRNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-2 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 120)   1 ATGGATTTTC AAGTGCAGAT TTTCAGCTTC CTGCTAATCA GTGCTTCAGT  51 CATTATGTCC AGGGGACAAA TTGTTCTCTC CCAGTCTCCA GCAATCCTGT 101 CTACATCTCC AGGGGAGAAG GTCACAATGA CTTGCAGGGC CAGCTCAAGT 151 GTATATTACA TGCACTGGTA CCAGCAGAAG CCAGGATCCT CCCCCAAACC 201 CTGGATTTAT GCCACATCCA ACCTGGCTTC TGGAGTCCCT GTTCGCTTCA 251 GTGGCAGTGG GTCTGGGACC TCTTACTCTC TCACAATCAC CAGAGTGGAG 301 GCTGAAGATG CTGCCACTTA TTACTGCCAG CAGTGGAGTA GTGACCCACT 351 CACGTTCGGT GCTGGGACCA AGCTGGAGCT GAAACGGGCT GATGCTGCAC 401 CAACTGTATC CATCTTCCCA CCATCCAGTG AGCAGTTAAC ATCTGGAGGT 451 GCCTCAGTCG TGTGCTTCTT GAACAACTTC TACCCCAAAG ACATCAATGT 501 CAAGTGGAAG ATTGATGGCA GTGAACGACA AAATGGCGTC CTGAACAGTT 551 GGACTGATCA GGACAGCAAA GACAGCACCT ACAGCATGAG CAGCACCCTC 601 ACGTTGACCA AGGACGAGTA TGAACGACAT AACAGCTATA CCTGTGAGGC 651 CACTCACAAG ACATCAACTT CACCCATTGT CAAGAGCTTC AACAGGAATG 701 AGTGTTAG Ab-2 Heavy Chain Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-2 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 121)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-2 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 122)    1 GAGGTTCAGG TGCAGCAGTC TGGGCCAGAA CTTGTGAAGC CAGGGGCCTC   51 AGTCAAGTTG TCCTGCACAG CTTCTGGCTT CAACATTAAA GACTACTTTA  101 TACACTGGGT GAAGCAGAGG CCTGAACAGG GCCTGGAGTG GATTGGAAGG  151 CTTGATCCTG AGGATGGTGA AAGTGATTAT GCCCCGAAGT TCCAGGACAA  201 GGCCATTATG ACAGCAGACA CATCATCCAA CACAGCCTAT CTTCAGCTCA  251 GAAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC ACTGCCATCT ATTATTGTGA GAGAGAGGAC  301 TACGATGGTA CCTACACCTT TTTTCCTTAC TGGGGCCAAG GGACTCTGGT  351 CACTGTCTCT GCAGCCAAAA CGACACCCCC ATCTGTCTAT CCACTGGCCC  401 CTGGATCTGC TGCCCAAACT AACTCCATGG TGACCCTGGG ATGCCTGGTC  451 AAGGGCTATT TCCCTGAGCC AGTGACAGTG ACCTGGAACT CTGGATCCCT  501 GTCCAGCGGT GTGCACACCT TCCCAGCTGT CCTGCAGTCT GACCTCTACA  551 CTCTGAGCAG CTCAGTGACT GTCCCCTCCA GCACCTGGCC CAGCGAGACC  601 GTCACCTGCA ACGTTGCCCA CCCGGCCAGC AGCACCAAGG TGGACAAGAA  651 AATTGTGCCC AGGGATTGTG GTTGTAAGCC TTGCATATGT ACAGTCCCAG  701 AAGTATCATC TGTCTTCATC TTCCCCCCAA AGCCCAAGGA TGTGCTCACC  751 ATTACTCTGA CTCCTAAGGT CACGTGTGTT GTGGTAGACA TCAGCAAGGA  801 TGATCCCGAG GTCCAGTTCA GCTGGTTTGT AGATGATGTG GAGGTGCACA  851 CAGCTCAGAC GCAACCCCGG GAGGAGCAGT TCAACAGCAC TTTCCGCTCA  901 GTCAGTGAAC TTCCCATCAT GCACCAGGAC TGGCTCAATG GCAAGGAGTT  951 CAAATGCAGG GTCAACAGTG CAGCTTTCCC TGCCCCCATC GAGAAAACCA 1001 TCTCCAAAAC CAAAGGCAGA CCGAAGGCTC CACAGGTGTA CACCATTCCA 1051 CCTCCCAAGG AGCAGATGGC CAAGGATAAA GTCAGTCTGA CCTGCATGAT 1101 AACAGACTTC TTCCCTGAAG ACATTACTGT GGAGTGGCAG TGGAATGGGC 1151 AGCCAGCGGA GAACTACAAG AACACTCAGC CCATCATGGA CACAGATGGC 1201 TCTTACTTCA TCTACAGCAA GCTCAATGTG CAGAAGAGCA ACTGGGAGGC 1251 AGGAAATACT TTCACCTGCT CTGTGTTACA TGAGGGCCTG CACAACCACC 1301 ATACTGAGAA GAGCCTCTCC CACTCTCCTG GTAAATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-2 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 123)   1 MKCSWVIFFL MAVVTGVNSE VQVQQSGPEL VKPGASVKLS CTASGFNIKD  51 YFIHWVKQRP EQGLEWIGRL DPEDGESDYA PKFQDKAIMT ADTSSNTAYL 101 QLRSLTSEDT AIYYCEREDY DGTYTFFPYW GQGTLVTVSA AKTTPPSVYP 151 LAPGSAAQTN SMVTLGCLVK GYFPEPVTVT WNSGSLSSGV HTFPAVLQSD 201 LYTLSSSVTV PSSTWPSETV TCNVAHPASS TKVDKKIVPR DCGCKPCICT 251 VPEVSSVFIF PPKPKDVLTI TLTPKVTCVV VDISKDDPEV QFSWFVDDVE 301 VHTAQTQPRE EQFNSTFRSV SELPIMHQDW LNGKEFKCRV NSAAFPAPIE 351 KTISKTKGRP KAPQVYTIPP PKEQMAKDKV SLTCMITDFF PEDITVEWQW 401 NGQPAENYKN TQPIMDTDGS YFIYSKLNVQ KSNWEAGNTF TCSVLHEGLH 451 NHHTEKSLSH SPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-2 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 124)    1 ATGAAATGCA GCTGGGTCAT CTTCTTCCTG ATGGCAGTGG TTACAGGGGT   51 CAATTCAGAG GTTCAGGTGC AGCAGTCTGG GCCAGAACTT GTGAAGCCAG  101 GGGCCTCAGT CAAGTTGTCC TGCACAGCTT CTGGCTTCAA CATTAAAGAC  151 TACTTTATAC ACTGGGTGAA GCAGAGGCCT GAACAGGGCC TGGAGTGGAT  201 TGGAAGGCTT GATCCTGAGG ATGGTGAAAG TGATTATGCC CCGAAGTTCC  251 AGGACAAGGC CATTATGACA GCAGACACAT CATCCAACAC AGCCTATCTT  301 CAGCTCAGAA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACACT GCCATCTATT ATTGTGAGAG  351 AGAGGACTAC GATGGTACCT ACACCTTTTT TCCTTACTGG GGCCAAGGGA  401 CTCTGGTCAC TGTCTCTGCA GCCAAAACGA CACCCCCATC TGTCTATCCA  451 CTGGCCCCTG GATCTGCTGC CCAAACTAAC TCCATGGTGA CCCTGGGATG  501 CCTGGTCAAG GGCTATTTCC CTGAGCCAGT GACAGTGACC TGGAACTCTG  551 GATCCCTGTC CAGCGGTGTG CACACCTTCC CAGCTGTCCT GCAGTCTGAC  601 CTCTACACTC TGAGCAGCTC AGTGACTGTC CCCTCCAGCA CCTGGCCCAG  651 CGAGACCGTC ACCTGCAACG TTGCCCACCC GGCCAGCAGC ACCAAGGTGG  701 ACAAGAAAAT TGTGCCCAGG GATTGTGGTT GTAAGCCTTG CATATGTACA  751 GTCCCAGAAG TATCATCTGT CTTCATCTTC CCCCCAAAGC CCAAGGATGT  801 GCTCACCATT ACTCTGACTC CTAAGGTCAC GTGTGTTGTG GTAGACATCA  851 GCAAGGATGA TCCCGAGGTC CAGTTCAGCT GGTTTGTAGA TGATGTGGAG  901 GTGCACACAG CTCAGACGCA ACCCCGGGAG GAGCAGTTCA ACAGCACTTT  951 CCGCTCAGTC AGTGAACTTC CCATCATGCA CCAGGACTGG CTCAATGGCA 1001 AGGAGTTCAA ATGCAGGGTC AACAGTGCAG CTTTCCCTGC CCCCATCGAG 1051 AAAACCATCT CCAAAACCAA AGGCAGACCG AAGGCTCCAC AGGTGTACAC 1101 CATTCCACCT CCCAAGGAGC AGATGGCCAA GGATAAAGTC AGTCTGACCT 1151 GCATGATAAC AGACTTCTTC CCTGAAGACA TTACTGTGGA GTGGCAGTGG 1201 AATGGGCAGC CAGCGGAGAA CTACAAGAAC ACTCAGCCCA TCATGGACAC 1251 AGATGGCTCT TACTTCATCT ACAGCAAGCT CAATGTGCAG AAGAGCAACT 1301 GGGAGGCAGG AAATACTTTC ACCTGCTCTG TGTTACATGA GGGCCTGCAC 1351 AACCACCATA CTGAGAAGAG CCTCTCCCAC TCTCCTGGTA AATGA Ab-3 The sequences of the Antibody 3 (also referred to herein as Ab-3) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-3 Light Chain Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-3 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 125)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-3 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 126)   1 GAAATTGTGC TCACCCAGTC TCCAGCACTC ATGGCTGCAT CTCCGGGGGA  51 GAAGGTCACC ATCACCTGCA GTGTCAGTTC AACTATAAGT TCCAACCACT 101 TGCACTGGTT CCAGCAGAAG TCAGACACCT CCCCCAAACC CTGGATTTAT 151 GGCACATCCA ACCTGGCTTC TGGAGTCCCT GTTCGCTTCA GTGGCAGTGG 201 ATCTGGGACC TCTTATTCTC TCACAATCAG CAGCATGGAG GCTGAGGATG 251 CTGCCACTTA TTACTGTCAA CAGTGGAGTA GTTACCCACT CACGTTCGGC 301 GCTGGGACCA AGCTGGAGCT GAGACGGGCT GATGCTGCAC CAACTGTATC 351 CATCTTCCCA CCATCCAGTG AGCAGTTAAC ATCTGGAGGT GCCTCAGTCG 401 TGTGCTTCTT GAACAACTTC TACCCCAAAG ACATCAATGT CAAGTGGAAG 451 ATTGATGGCA GTGAACGACA AAATGGCGTC CTGAACAGTT GGACTGATCA 501 GGACAGCAAA GACAGCACCT ACAGCATGAG CAGCACCCTC ACGTTGACCA 551 AGGACGAGTA TGAACGACAT AACAGCTATA CCTGTGAGGC CACTCACAAG 601 ACATCAACTT CACCCATTGT CAAGAGCTTC AACAGGAATG AGTGTTAG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-3 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 127)   1 MDFHVQIFSF MLISVTVILS SGEIVLTQSP ALMAASPGEK VTITCSVSST  51 ISSNHLHWFQ QKSDTSPKPW IYGTSNLASG VPVRFSGSGS GTSYSLTISS 101 MEAEDAATYY CQQWSSYPLT FGAGTKLELR RADAAPTVSI FPPSSEQLTS 151 GGASVVCFLN NFYPKDINVK WKIDGSERQN GVLNSWTDQD SKDSTYSMSS 201 TLTLTKDEYE RHNSYTCEAT HKTSTSPIVK SFNRNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-3 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 128)   1 ATGGATTTTC ATGTGCAGAT TTTCAGCTTC ATGCTAATCA GTGTCACAGT  51 CATTTTGTCC AGTGGAGAAA TTGTGCTCAC CCAGTCTCCA GCACTCATGG 101 CTGCATCTCC GGGGGAGAAG GTCACCATCA CCTGCAGTGT CAGTTCAACT 151 ATAAGTTCCA ACCACTTGCA CTGGTTCCAG CAGAAGTCAG ACACCTCCCC 201 CAAACCCTGG ATTTATGGCA CATCCAACCT GGCTTCTGGA GTCCCTGTTC 251 GCTTCAGTGG CAGTGGATCT GGGACCTCTT ATTCTCTCAC AATCAGCAGC 301 ATGGAGGCTG AGGATGCTGC CACTTATTAC TGTCAACAGT GGAGTAGTTA 351 CCCACTCACG TTCGGCGCTG GGACCAAGCT GGAGCTGAGA CGGGCTGATG 401 CTGCACCAAC TGTATCCATC TGTCCACCAT CCAGTGAGCA GTTAACATCT 451 GGAGGTGCCT CAGTCGTGTG CTTCTTGAAC AACTTCTACC CCAAAGACAT 501 CAATGTCAAG TGGAAGATTG ATGGCAGTGA ACGACAAAAT GGCGTCCTGA 551 ACAGTTGGAC TGATCAGGAC AGCAAAGACA GCACCTACAG CATGAGCAGC 601 ACCCTCACGT TGACCAAGGA CGAGTATGAA CGACATAACA GCTATACCTG 651 TGAGGCCACT CACAAGACAT CAACTTCACC CATTGTCAAG AGCTTCAACA 701 GGAATGAGTG TTAG Ab-3 Heavy Chain Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-3 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 129)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-3 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 130)    1 GAGGTTCAGC TGCAGCAGTC TGGGGCTGAA CTTGTGAGGC CAGGGGCCTT   51 AGTCAAGTTG TCCTGCACAG CTTCTGACTT CAACATTAAA GACTTCTATC  101 TACACTGGAT GAGGCAGCGG CCTGAACAGG GCCTGGACTG GATTGGAAGG  151 ATTGATCCTG AGAATGGTGA TACTTTATAT GACCCGAAGT TCCAGGACAA  201 GGCCACTCTT ACAACAGACA CATCCTCCAA CACAGCCTAC CTGCAGCTCA  251 GCGGCCTGAC ATCTGAGACC ACTGCCGTCT ATTACTGTTC TAGAGAGGCG  301 GATTATTTCC ACGATGGTAC CTCCTACTGG TACTTCGATG TCTGGGGCGC  351 AGGGACCACA ATCACCGTCT CCTCAGCCAA AACGACACCC CCATCTGTCT  401 ATCCACTGGC CCCTGGATCT GCTGCCCAAA CTAACTCCAT GGTGACCCTG  451 GGATGCCTGG TCAAGGGCTA TTTCCCTGAG CCAGTGACAG TGACCTGGAA  501 CTCTGGATCC CTGTCCAGCG GTGTGCACAC CTTCCCAGCT GTCCTGCAGT  551 CTGACCTCTA CACTCTGAGC AGCTCAGTGA CTGTCCCCTC CAGCACCTGG  601 CCCAGCGAGA CCGTCACCTG CAACGTTGCC CACCCGGCCA GCAGCACCAA  651 GGTGGACAAG AAAATTGTGC CCAGGGATTG TGGTTGTAAG CCTTGCATAT  701 GTACAGTCCC AGAAGTATCA TCTGTCTTCA TCTTCCCCCC AAAGCCCAAG  751 GATGTGCTCA CCATTACTCT GACTCCTAAG GTCACGTGTG TTGTGGTAGA  801 CATCAGCAAG GATGATCCCG AGGTCCAGTT CAGCTGGTTT GTAGATGATG  851 TGGAGGTGCA CACAGCTCAG ACGCAACCCC GGGAGGAGCA GTTCAACAGC  901 ACTTTCCGCT CAGTCAGTGA ACTTCCCATC ATGCACCAGG ACTGGCTCAA  951 TGGCAAGGAG TTCAAATGCA GGGTCAACAG TGCAGCTTTC CCTGCCCCCA 1001 TCGAGAAAAC CATCTCCAAA ACCAAAGGCA GACCGAAGGC TCCACAGGTG 1051 TACACCATTC CACCTCCCAA GGAGCAGATG GCCAAGGATA AAGTCAGTCT 1101 GACCTGCATG ATAACAGACT TCTTCCCTGA AGACATTACT GTGGAGTGGC 1151 AGTGGAATGG GCAGCCAGCG GAGAACTACA AGAACACTCA GCCCATCATG 1201 GACACAGATG GCTCTTACTT CATCTACAGC AAGCTCAATG TGCAGAAGAG 1251 CAACTGGGAG GCAGGAAATA CTTTCACCTG CTCTGTGTTA CATGAGGGCC 1301 TGCACAACCA CCATACTGAG AAGAGCCTCT CCCACTCTCC TGGTAAATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-3 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 131)   1 MKCSWVIFFL MAVVTGVNSE VQLQQSGAEL VRPGALVKLS CTASDFNIKD  51 FYLHWMRQRP EQGLDWIGRI DPENGDTLYD PKFQDKATLT TDTSSNTAYL 101 QLSGLTSETT AVYYCSREAD YFHDGTSYWY FDVWGAGTTI TVSSAKTTPP 151 SVYPLAPGSA AQTNSMVTLG CLVKGYFPEP VTVTWNSGSL SSGVHTFPAV 201 LQSDLYTLSS SVTVPSSTWP SETVTCNVAH PASSTKVDKK IVPRDCGCKP 251 CICTVPEVSS VFIFPPKPKD VLTITLTPKV TCVVVDISKD DPEVQFSWFV 301 DDVEVHTAQT QPREEQFNST FRSVSELPIM HQDWLNGKEF KCRVNSAAFP 351 APIEKTISKT KGRPKAPQVY TIPPPKEQMA KDKVSLTCMI TDFFPEDITV 401 EWQWNGQPAE NYKNTQPIMD TDGSYFIYSK LNVQKSNWEA GNTFTCSVLH 451 EGLHNHHTEK SLSHSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-3 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 132)    1 ATGAAATGCA GCTGGGTCAT CTTCTTCCTG ATGGCAGTGG TTACAGGGGT   51 CAATTCAGAG GTTCAGCTGC AGCAGTCTGG GGCTGAACTT GTGAGGCCAG  101 GGGCCTTAGT CAAGTTGTCC TGCACAGCTT CTGACTTCAA CATTAAAGAC  151 TTCTATCTAC ACTGGATGAG GCAGCGGCCT GAACAGGGCC TGGACTGGAT  201 TGGAAGGATT GATCCTGAGA ATGGTGATAC TTTATATGAC CCGAAGTTCC  251 AGGACAAGGC CACTCTTACA ACAGACACAT CCTCCAACAC AGCCTACCTG  301 CAGCTCAGCG GCCTGACATC TGAGACCACT GCCGTCTATT ACTGTTCTAG  351 AGAGGCGGAT TATTTCCACG ATGGTACCTC CTACTGGTAC TTCGATGTCT  401 GGGGCGCAGG GACCACAATC ACCGTCTCCT CAGCCAAAAC GACACCCCCA  451 TCTGTCTATC CACTGGCCCC TGGATCTGCT GCCCAAACTA ACTCCATGGT  501 GACCCTGGGA TGCCTGGTCA AGGGCTATTT CCCTGAGCCA GTGACAGTGA  551 CCTGGAACTC TGGATCCCTG TCCAGCGGTG TGCACACCTT CCCAGCTGTC  601 CTGCAGTCTG ACCTCTACAC TCTGAGCAGC TCAGTGACTG TCCCCTCCAG  651 CACCTGGCCC AGCGAGACCG TCACCTGCAA CGTTGCCCAC CCGGCCAGCA  701 GCACCAAGGT GGACAAGAAA ATTGTGCCCA GGGATTGTGG TTGTAAGCCT  751 TGCATATGTA CAGTCCCAGA AGTATCATCT GTCTTCATCT TCCCCCCAAA  801 GCCCAAGGAT GTGCTCACCA TTACTCTGAC TCCTAAGGTC ACGTGTGTTG  851 TGGTAGACAT CAGCAAGGAT GATCCCGAGG TCCAGTTCAG CTGGTTTGTA  901 GATGATGTGG AGGTGCACAC AGCTCAGACG CAACCCCGGG AGGAGCAGTT  951 CAACAGCACT TTCCGCTCAG TCAGTGAACT TCCCATCATG CACCAGGACT 1001 GGCTCAATGG CAAGGAGTTC AAATGCAGGG TCAACAGTGC AGCTTTCCCT 1051 GCCCCCATCG AGAAAACCAT CTCCAAAACC AAAGGCAGAC CGAAGGCTCC 1101 ACAGGTGTAC ACCATTCCAC CTCCCAAGGA GCAGATGGCC AAGGATAAAG 1151 TCAGTCTGAC CTGCATGATA ACAGACTTCT TCCCTGAAGA CATTACTGTG 1201 GAGTGGCAGT GGAATGGGCA GCCAGCGGAG AACTACAAGA ACACTCAGCC 1251 CATCATGGAC ACAGATGGCT CTTACTTCAT CTACAGCAAG CTCAATGTGC 1301 AGAAGAGCAA CTGGGAGGCA GGAAATACTT TCACCTGCTC TGTGTTACAT 1351 GAGGGCCTGC ACAACCACCA TACTGAGAAG AGCCTCTCCC ACTCTCCTGG 1401 TAAATGA Ab-4 The sequences of the Antibody 4 (also referred to herein as Ab-4) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-4 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-4 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 133)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-4 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 134)   1 GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAT TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT CTCTGGGAGA  51 CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA AGACATTAGC AATTATTTAA 101 ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT TATCTTCTAC 151 ACATCAAGAT TACTCTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG GCAGTGGGTC 201 TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA CCTGGAGCAA GAAGATTTTG 251 CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC TTCCGTACAC TTTCGGAGGG 301 GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT GTTAG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-4 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 135)   1 MMSSAQFLGL LLLCFQGTRC DIQMTQITSS LSASLGDRVS ISCRASQDIS  51 NYLNWYQQKP DGTFKLLIFY TSRLLSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD YSLTIYNLEQ 101 EDFATYFCQQ GDTLPYTFGG GTKLEIKRAD AAPTVSIFPP SSEQLTSGGA 151 SVVCFLNNFY PKDINVKWKI DGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKD STYSMSSTLT 201 LTKDEYERHN SYTCEATHKT STSPIVKSFN RNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-4 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 136)   1 ATGATGTCCT CTGCTCAGTT CCTTGGTCTC CTGTTGCTCT GTTTTCAAGG  51 TACCAGATGT GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAT TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT 101 CTCTGGGAGA CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA AGACATTAGC 151 AATTATTTAA ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT 201 TATCTTCTAC ACATCAAGAT TACTCTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG 251 GCAGTGGGTC TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA CCTGGAGCAA 301 GAAGATTTTG CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC TTCCGTACAC 351 TTTCGGAGGG GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA 401 CTGTATCCAT CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC 451 TCAGTCGTGT GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA 501 GTGGAAGATT GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA 551 CTGATCAGGA CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG 601 TTGACCAAGG ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC 651 TCACAAGACA TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT 701 GTTAG Ab-4 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-4 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 137)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-4 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 138)    1 GAGGTCCAAC TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTAATGAAGC CTGGGGCTTC   51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA TACATTCACT GACTACAACA  101 TGCACTGGGT GAAGCAGAAC CAAGGAAAGA CCCTAGAGTG GATAGGAGAA  151 ATTAATCCTA ACAGTGGTGG TGCTGGCTAC AACCAGAAGT TCAAGGGCAA  201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCCTCCAC CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTCC  251 GCAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC AAGATTGGGC  301 TACGATGATA TCTACGACGA CTGGTACTTC GATGTCTGGG GCGCAGGGAC  351 CACGGTCACC GTCTCCTCAG CCAAAACGAC ACCCCCATCT GTCTATCCAC  401 TGGCCCCTGG ATCTGCTGCC CAAACTAACT CCATGGTGAC CCTGGGATGC  451 CTGGTCAAGG GCTATTTCCC TGAGCCAGTG ACAGTGACCT GGAACTCTGG  501 ATCCCTGTCC AGCGGTGTGC ACACCTTCCC AGCTGTCCTG CAGTCTGACC  551 TCTACACTCT GAGCAGCTCA GTGACTGTCC CCTCCAGCAC CTGGCCCAGC  601 GAGACCGTCA CCTGCAACGT TGCCCACCCG GCCAGCAGCA CCAAGGTGGA  651 CAAGAAAATT GTGCCCAGGG ATTGTGGTTG TAAGCCTTGC ATATGTACAG  701 TCCCAGAAGT ATCATCTGTC TTCATCTTCC CCCCAAAGCC CAAGGATGTG  751 CTCACCATTA CTCTGACTCC TAAGGTCACG TGTGTTGTGG TAGACATCAG  801 CAAGGATGAT CCCGAGGTCC AGTTCAGCTG GTTTGTAGAT GATGTGGAGG  851 TGCACACAGC TCAGACGCAA CCCCGGGAGG AGCAGTTCAA CAGCACTTTC  901 CGCTCAGTCA GTGAACTTCC CATCATGCAC CAGGACTGGC TCAATGGCAA  951 GGAGTTCAAA TGCAGGGTCA ACAGTGCAGC TTTCCCTGCC CCCATCGAGA 1001 AAACCATCTC CAAAACCAAA GGCAGACCGA AGGCTCCACA GGTGTACACC 1051 ATTCCACCTC CCAAGGAGCA GATGGCCAAG GATAAAGTCA GTCTGACCTG 1101 CATGATAACA GACTTCTTCC CTGAAGACAT TACTGTGGAG TGGCAGTGGA 1151 ATGGGCAGCC AGCGGAGAAC TACAAGAACA CTCAGCCCAT CATGGACACA 1201 GATGGCTCTT ACTTCATCTA CAGCAAGCTC AATGTGCAGA AGAGCAACTG 1251 GGAGGCAGGA AATACTTTCA CCTGCTCTGT GTTACATGAG GGCCTGCACA 1301 ACCACCATAC TGAGAAGAGC CTCTCCCACT CTCCTGGTAA ATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-4 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 139)   1 MGWSWTFLFL LSGTAGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL MKPGASVKMS CKASGYIFTD  51 YNMHWVKQNQ GKTLEWIGEI NPNSGGAGYN QKFKGKATLT VDKSSTTAYM 101 ELRSLTSEDS AVYYCARLGY DDIYDDWYFD VWGAGTTVTV SSAKTTPPSV 151 YPLAPGSAAQ TNSMVTLGCL VKGYFPEPVT VTWNSGSLSS GVHTFPAVLQ 201 SDLYTLSSSV TVPSSTWPSE TVTCNVAHPA SSTKVDKKIV PRDCGCKPCI 251 CTVPEVSSVF IFPPKPKDVL TITLTPKVTC VVVDISKDDP EVQFSWFVDD 301 VEVHTAQTQP REEQFNSTFR SVSELPIMHQ DWLNGKEFKC RVNSAAFPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG RPKAPQVYTI PPPKEQMAKD KVSLTCMITD FFPEDITVEW 401 QWNGQPAENY KNTQPIMDTD GSYFIYSKLN VQKSNWEAGN TFTCSVLHEG 451 LHNHHTEKSL SHSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-4 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 140)    1 ATGGGATGGA GCTGGACCTT TCTCTTCCTC CTGTCAGGAA CTGCAGGTGT   51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAACTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTA ATGAAGCCTG  101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATATAC ATTCACTGAC  151 TACAACATGC ACTGGGTGAA GCAGAACCAA GGAAAGACCC TAGAGTGGAT  201 AGGAGAAATT AATCCTAACA GTGGTGGTGC TGGCTACAAC CAGAAGTTCA  251 AGGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CCTCCACCAC AGCCTACATG  301 GAGCTCCGCA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG  351 ATTGGGCTAC GATGATATCT ACGACGACTG GTACTTCGAT GTCTGGGGCG  401 CAGGGACCAC GGTCACCGTC TCCTCAGCCA AAACGACACC CCCATCTGTC  451 TATCCACTGG CCCCTGGATC TGCTGCCCAA ACTAACTCCA TGGTGACCCT  501 GGGATGCCTG GTCAAGGGCT ATTTCCCTGA GCCAGTGACA GTGACCTGGA  551 ACTCTGGATC CCTGTCCAGC GGTGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC TGTCCTGCAG  601 TCTGACCTCT ACACTCTGAG CAGCTCAGTG ACTGTCCCCT CCAGCACCTG  651 GCCCAGCGAG ACCGTCACCT GCAACGTTGC CCACCCGGCC AGCAGCACCA  701 AGGTGGACAA GAAAATTGTG CCCAGGGATT GTGGTTGTAA GCCTTGCATA  751 TGTACAGTCC CAGAAGTATC ATCTGTCTTC ATCTTCCCCC CAAAGCCCAA  801 GGATGTGCTC ACCATTACTC TGACTCCTAA GGTCACGTGT GTTGTGGTAG  851 ACATCAGCAA GGATGATCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAGCTGGTT TGTAGATGAT  901 GTGGAGGTGC ACACAGCTCA GACGCAACCC CGGGAGGAGC AGTTCAACAG  951 CACTTTCCGC TCAGTCAGTG AACTTCCCAT CATGCACCAG GACTGGCTCA 1001 ATGGCAAGGA GTTCAAATGC AGGGTCAACA GTGCAGCTTT CCCTGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGC AGACCGAAGG CTCCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCATT CCACCTCCCA AGGAGCAGAT GGCCAAGGAT AAAGTCAGTC 1151 TGACCTGCAT GATAACAGAC TTCTTCCCTG AAGACATTAC TGTGGAGTGG 1201 CAGTGGAATG GGCAGCCAGC GGAGAACTAC AAGAACACTC AGCCCATCAT 1251 GGACACAGAT GGCTCTTACT TCATCTACAG CAAGCTCAAT GTGCAGAAGA 1301 GCAACTGGGA GGCAGGAAAT ACTTTCACCT GCTCTGTGTT ACATGAGGGC 1351 CTGCACAACC ACCATACTGA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCACTCTC CTGGTAAATG 1401 A Ab-4 was humanized to generate Ab-5. Ab-5 The sequences of the Antibody 5 (also referred to herein as Ab-5) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-5 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-5 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 141)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-5 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 142)   1 GACATCCAGA TGACCCAGTC TCCATCCTCC CTCTCCGCAT CCGTAGGCGA  51 CCGCGTAACC ATAACATGTA GAGCATCTCA AGATATTTCC AACTATTTGA 101 ATTGGTACCA ACAAAAACCC GGCAAAGCAC CTAAACTCCT CATTTACTAT 151 ACATCAAGAC TCCTCTCCGG CGTTCCATCA CGATTCTCAG GCTCCGGCTC 201 CGGCACAGAT TTCACACTCA CTATTTCCTC CCTCCAACCA GAAGATTTTG 251 CAACCTATTA CTGTCAACAA GGCGATACAC TCCCATACAC ATTCGGCGGC 301 GGCACAAAAG TTGAAATTAA ACGTACGGTG GCTGCACCAT CTGTCTTCAT 351 CTTCCCGCCA TCTGATGAGC AGTTGAAATC TGGAACTGCC TCTGTTGTGT 401 GCCTGCTGAA TAACTTCTAT CCCAGAGAGG CCAAAGTACA GTGGAAGGTG 451 GATAACGCCC TCCAATCGGG TAACTCCCAG GAGAGTGTCA CAGAGCAGGA 501 CAGCAAGGAC AGCACCTACA GCCTCAGCAG CACCCTGACG CTGAGCAAAG 551 CAGACTACGA GAAACACAAA GTCTACGCCT GCGAAGTCAC CCATCAGGGC 601 CTGAGCTCGC CCGTCACAAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGGGAGAGT GT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-5 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 143)   1 MDMRVPAQLL GLLLLWLRGA RCDIQMTQSP SSLSASVGDR VTITCRASQD  51 ISNYLNWYQQ KPGKAPKLLI YYTSRLLSGV PSRFSGSGSG TDFTLTISSL 101 QPEDFATYYC QQGDTLPYTF GGGTKVEIKR TVAAPSVFIF PPSDEQLKSG 151 TASVVCLLNN FYPREAKVQW KVDNALQSGN SQESVTEQDS KDSTYSLSST 201 LTLSKADYEK HKVYACEVTH QGLSSPVTKS FNRGEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-5 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 144)   1 ATGGACATGA GGGTCCCCGC TCAGCTCCTG GGGCTCCTGC TACTCTGGCT  51 CCGAGGTGCC AGATGTGACA TCCAGATGAC CCAGTCTCCA TCCTCCCTCT 101 CCGCATCCGT AGGCGACCGC GTAACCATAA CATGTAGAGC ATCTCAAGAT 151 ATTTCCAACT ATTTGAATTG GTACCAACAA AAACCCGGCA AAGCACCTAA 201 ACTCCTCATT TACTATACAT CAAGACTCCT CTCCGGCGTT CCATCACGAT 251 TCTCAGGCTC CGGCTCCGGC ACAGATTTCA CACTCACTAT TTCCTCCCTC 301 CAACCAGAAG ATTTTGCAAC CTATTACTGT CAACAAGGCG ATACACTCCC 351 ATACACATTC GGCGGCGGCA CAAAAGTTGA AATTAAACGT ACGGTGGCTG 401 CACCATCTGT CTTCATCTTC CCGCCATCTG ATGAGCAGTT GAAATCTGGA 451 ACTGCCTCTG TTGTGTGCCT GCTGAATAAC TTCTATCCCA GAGAGGCCAA 501 AGTACAGTGG AAGGTGGATA ACGCCCTCCA ATCGGGTAAC TCCCAGGAGA 551 GTGTCACAGA GCAGGACAGC AAGGACAGCA CCTACAGCCT CAGCAGCACC 601 CTGACGCTGA GCAAAGCAGA CTACGAGAAA CACAAAGTCT ACGCCTGCGA 651 AGTCACCCAT CAGGGCCTGA GCTCGCCCGT CACAAAGAGC TTCAACAGGG 701 GAGAGTGT Ab-5 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-5 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 145)

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-5 HC without carboxy-terminal lysine:

(SEQ ID NO: 392)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-5 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 146)    1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGAG CGGCGCCGAG GTAAAAAAAC CAGGAGCAAG   51 CGTTAAAGTT TCTTGTAAAG CAAGCGGATA TACATTTACA GATTACAACA  101 TGCATTGGGT AAGACAAGCG CCAGGACAAG GATTGGAATG GATGGGCGAA  151 ATTAACCCTA ATAGTGGAGG AGCAGGCTAC AATCAAAAAT TCAAAGGGAG  201 AGTTACAATG ACAACAGACA CAAGCACTTC AACAGCATAT ATGGAACTGC  251 GATCACTTAG AAGCGACGAT ACAGCTGTAT ACTATTGCGC ACGACTTGGG  301 TATGATGATA TATATGATGA CTGGTATTTC GATGTTTGGG GCCAGGGAAC  351 AACAGTTACC GTCTCTAGTG CCTCCACCAA GGGCCCATCG GTCTTCCCCC  401 TGGCGCCCTG CTCCAGGAGC ACCTCCGAGA GCACAGCGGC CCTGGGCTGC  451 CTGGTCAAGG ACTACTTCCC CGAACCGGTG ACGGTGTCGT GGAACTCAGG  501 CGCTCTGACC AGCGGCGTGC ACACCTTCCC AGCTGTCCTA CAGTCCTCAG  551 GACTCTACTC CCTCAGCAGC GTGGTGACCG TGCCCTCCAG CAACTTCGGC  601 ACCCAGACCT ACACCTGCAA CGTAGATCAC AAGCCCAGCA ACACCAAGGT  651 GGACAAGACA GTTGAGCGCA AATGTTGTGT CGAGTGCCCA CCGTGCCCAG  701 CACCACCTGT GGCAGGACCG TCAGTCTTCC TCTTCCCCCC AAAACCCAAG  751 GACACCCTCA TGATCTCCCG GACCCCTGAG GTCACGTGCG TGGTGGTGGA  801 CGTGAGCCAC GAAGACCCCG AGGTCCAGTT CAACTGGTAC GTGGACGGCG  851 TGGAGGTGCA TAATGCCAAG ACAAAGCCAC GGGAGGAGCA GTTCAACAGC  901 ACGTTCCGTG TGGTCAGCGT CCTCACCGTT GTGCACCAGG ACTGGCTGAA  951 CGGCAAGGAG TACAAGTGCA AGGTCTCCAA CAAAGGCCTC CCAGCCCCCA 1001 TCGAGAAAAC CATCTCCAAA ACCAAAGGGC AGCCCCGAGA ACCACAGGTG 1051 TACACCCTGC CCCCATCCCG GGAGGAGATG ACCAAGAACC AGGTCAGCCT 1101 GACCTGCCTG GTCAAAGGCT TCTACCCCAG CGACATCGCC GTGGAGTGGG 1151 AGAGCAATGG GCAGCCGGAG AACAACTACA AGACCACACC TCCCATGCTG 1201 GACTCCGACG GCTCCTTCTT CCTCTACAGC AAGCTCACCG TGGACAAGAG 1251 CAGGTGGCAG CAGGGGAACG TCTTCTCATG CTCCGTGATG CATGAGGCTC 1301 TGCACAACCA CTACACGCAG AAGAGCCTCT CCCTGTCTCC GGGTAAA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-5 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 147)   1 MDWTWRILFL VAAATGAHSE VQLVQSGAEV KKPGASVKVS CKASGYTFTD  51 YNMHWVRQAP GQGLEWMGEI NPNSGGAGYN QKFKGRVTMT TDTSTSTAYM 101 ELRSLRSDDT AVYYCARLGY DDIYDDWYFD VWGQGTTVTV SSASTKGPSV 151 FPLAPCSRST SESTAALGCL VKDYFPEPVT VSWNSGALTS GVHTFPAVLQ 201 SSGLYSLSSV VTVPSSNFGT QTYTCNVDHK PSNTKVDKTV ERKCCVECPP 251 CPAPPVAGPS VFLFPPKPKD TLMISRTPEV TCVVVDVSHE DPEVQFNWYV 301 DGVEVHNAKT KPREEQFNST FRVVSVLTVV HQDWLNGKEY KCKVSNKGLP 351 APIEKTISKT KGQPREPQVY TLPPSREEMT KNQVSLTCLV KGFYPSDIAV 401 EWESNGQPEN NYKTTPPMLD SDGSFFLYSK LTVDKSRWQQ GNVFSCSVMH 451 EALHNHYTQK SLSLSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-5 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 148)    1 ATGGACTGGA CCTGGAGGAT CCTCTTCTTG GTGGCAGCAG CCACAGGAGC   51 CCACTCCGAG GTGCAGCTGG TGCAGAGCGG CGCCGAGGTA AAAAAACCAG  101 GAGCAAGCGT TAAAGTTTCT TGTAAAGCAA GCGGATATAC ATTTACAGAT  151 TACAACATGC ATTGGGTAAG ACAAGCGCCA GGACAAGGAT TGGAATGGAT  201 GGGCGAAATT AACCCTAATA GTGGAGGAGC AGGCTACAAT CAAAAATTCA  251 AAGGGAGAGT TACAATGACA ACAGACACAA GCACTTCAAC AGCATATATG  301 GAACTGCGAT CACTTAGAAG CGACGATACA GCTGTATACT ATTGCGCACG  351 ACTTGGGTAT GATGATATAT ATGATGACTG GTATTTCGAT GTTTGGGGCC  401 AGGGAACAAC AGTTACCGTC TCTAGTGCCT CCACCAAGGG CCCATCGGTC  451 TTCCCCCTGG CGCCCTGCTC CAGGAGCACC TCCGAGAGCA CAGCGGCCCT  501 GGGCTGCCTG GTCAAGGACT ACTTCCCCGA ACCGGTGACG GTGTCGTGGA  551 ACTCAGGCGC TCTGACCAGC GGCGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC TGTCCTACAG  601 TCCTCAGGAC TCTACTCCCT CAGCAGCGTG GTGACCGTGC CCTCCAGCAA  651 CTTCGGCACC CAGACCTACA CCTGCAACGT AGATCACAAG CCCAGCAACA  701 CCAAGGTGGA CAAGACAGTT GAGCGCAAAT GTTGTGTCGA GTGCCCACCG  751 TGCCCAGCAC CACCTGTGGC AGGACCGTCA GTCTTCCTCT TCCCCCCAAA  801 ACCCAAGGAC ACCCTCATGA TCTCCCGGAC CCCTGAGGTC ACGTGCGTGG  851 TGGTGGACGT GAGCCACGAA GACCCCGAGG TCCAGTTCAA CTGGTACGTG  901 GACGGCGTGG AGGTGCATAA TGCCAAGACA AAGCCACGGG AGGAGCAGTT  951 CAACAGCACG TTCCGTGTGG TCAGCGTCCT CACCGTTGTG CACCAGGACT 1001 GGCTGAACGG CAAGGAGTAC AAGTGCAAGG TCTCCAACAA AGGCCTCCCA 1051 GCCCCCATCG AGAAAACCAT CTCCAAAACC AAAGGGCAGC CCCGAGAACC 1101 ACAGGTGTAC ACCCTGCCCC CATCCCGGGA GGAGATGACC AAGAACCAGG 1151 TCAGCCTGAC CTGCCTGGTC AAAGGCTTCT ACCCCAGCGA CATCGCCGTG 1201 GAGTGGGAGA GCAATGGGCA GCCGGAGAAC AACTACAAGA CCACACCTCC 1251 CATGCTGGAC TCCGACGGCT CCTTCTTCCT CTACAGCAAG CTCACCGTGG 1301 ACAAGAGCAG GTGGCAGCAG GGGAACGTCT TCTCATGCTC CGTGATGCAT 1351 GAGGCTCTGC ACAACCACTA CACGCAGAAG AGCCTCTCCC TGTCTCCGGG 1401 TAAA Ab-5 Variable domains: Ab-5 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 376)

Ab-5 light chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 377)   1 GACATCCAGA TGACCCAGTC TCCATCCTCC CTCTCCGCAT CCGTAGGCGA  51 CCGCGTAACC ATAACATGTA GAGCATCTCA AGATATTTCC AACTATTTGA 101 ATTGGTACCA ACAAAAACCC GGCAAAGCAC CTAAACTCCT CATTTACTAT 151 ACATCAAGAC TCCTCTCCGG CGTTCCATCA CGATTCTCAG GCTCCGGCTC 201 CGGCACAGAT TTCACACTCA CTATTTCCTC CCTCCAACCA GAAGATTTTG 251 CAACCTATTA CTGTCAACAA GGCGATACAC TCCCATACAC ATTCGGCGGC 301 GGCACAAAAG TTGAAATTAA A Ab-5 heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 378)

Ab-5 heavy chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 379)   1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGAG CGGCGCCGAG GTAAAAAAAC CAGGAGCAAG  51 CGTTAAAGTT TCTTGTAAAG CAAGCGGATA TACATTTACA GATTACAACA 101 TGCATTGGGT AAGACAAGCG CCAGGACAAG GATTGGAATG GATGGGCGAA 151 ATTAACCCTA ATAGTGGAGG AGCAGGCTAC AATCAAAAAT TCAAAGGGAG 201 AGTTACAATG ACAACAGACA CAAGCACTTC AACAGCATAT ATGGAACTGC 251 GATCACTTAG AAGCGACGAT ACAGCTGTAT ACTATTGCGC ACGACTTGGG 301 TATGATGATA TATATGATGA CTGGTATTTC GATGTTTGGG GCCAGGGAAC 351 AACAGTTACC GTCTCTAGT

The CDR (complementarity determining region) sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-5 are as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 245) CDR-H1: DYNMH (SEQ ID NO: 246) CDR-H2: EINPNSGGAGYNQKFKG (SEQ ID NO: 247) CDR-H3: LGYDDIYDDWYFDV

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-5 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 78) CDR-L1: RASQDISNYLN (SEQ ID NO: 79) CDR-L2: YTSRLLS (SEQ ID NO: 80) CDR-L3: QQGDTLPYT Ab-6 The sequences of the Antibody 6 (also referred to herein as Ab-6) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-6 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-6 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 149)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-6 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 150)   1 GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT CTCTGGGAGA  51 CAGAGTCACC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA GGACATTAGC AATTATTTAA 101 ACTGGTTTCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTC TTAAACTCCT GATCTTCTAC 151 ACATCAAGAT TACACTCAGG AGTTCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG GCAGTGGGTC 201 TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTAGCAA CCTGGAGCAA GAAGATATTG 251 CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGTGATACGC TTCCGTACAC GTTCGGGGGG 301 GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAG ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT GTTAG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-6 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 151)   1 MMSSAQFLGL LLLCFQGTRC DIQMTQTTSS LSASLGDRVT ISCRASQDIS  51 NYLNWFQQKP DGTLKLLIFY TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD YSLTISNLEQ 101 EDIATYFCQQ GDTLPYTFGG GTKLEIRRAD AAPTVSIFPP SSEQLTSGGA 151 SVVCFLNNFY PKDINVKWKI DGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKD STYSMSSTLT 201 LTKDEYERHN SYTCEATHKT STSPIVKSFN RNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-6 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 152) 1 ATGATGTCCT CTGCTCAGTT CCTTGGTCTC CTGTTGCTCT  GTTTTCAAGG 51 TACCAGATGT GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC  CTGTCTGCCT 101 CTCTGGGAGA CAGAGTCACC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA  GGACATTAGC 151 AATTATTTAA ACTGGTTTCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTC  TTAAACTCCT 201 GATCTTCTAC ACATCAAGAT TACACTCAGG AGTTCCATCA  AGGTTCAGTG 251 GCAGTGGGTC TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTAGCAA  CCTGGAGCAA 301 GAAGATATTG CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGTGATACGC  TTCCGTACAC 351 GTTCGGGGGG GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAG ACGGGCTGAT  GCTGCACCAA 401 CTGTATCCAT CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC  TGGAGGTGCC 451 TCAGTCGTGT GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA  TCAATGTCAA 501 GTGGAAGATT GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG  AACAGTTGGA 551 CTGATCAGGA CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG  CACCCTCACG 601 TTGACCAAGG ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC 651 TCACAAGACA TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT 701 GTTAG Ab-6 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-6 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 153)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-6 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 154) 1 GAGGTCCAGC TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTAATGAAGC  CTGGGGCTTC 51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA CACATTCACT  GACTACAACA 101 TGCACTGGGT GAAACAGAAC CAAGGAAAGA GCCTAGAGTG  GATAGGAGAA 151 ATTAATCCTA ACAGTGGTGG TAGTGGCTAC AACCAAAAGT  TCAAAGGCAA 201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCTTCCAG CACAGCCTAC  ATGGAGCTCC 251 GCAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC  AAGATTGGTC 301 TACGATGGCA GCTACGAGGA CTGGTACTTC GATGTCTGGG  GCGCAGGGAC 351 CACGGTCACC GTCTCCTCAG CCAAAACGAC ACCCCCATCT  GTCTATCCAC 401 TGGCCCCTGG ATCTGCTGCC CAAACTAACT CCATGGTGAC  CCTGGGATGC 451 CTGGTCAAGG GCTATTTCCC TGAGCCAGTG ACAGTGACCT  GGAACTCTGG 501 ATCCCTGTCC AGCGGTGTGC ACACCTTCCC AGCTGTCCTG  CAGTCTGACC 551 TCTACACTCT GAGCAGCTCA GTGACTGTCC CCTCCAGCAC  CTGGCCCAGC 601 GAGACCGTCA CCTGCAACGT TGCCCACCCG GCCAGCAGCA  CCAAGGTGGA 651 CAAGAAAATT GTGCCCAGGG ATTGTGGTTG TAAGCCTTGC  ATATGTACAG 701 TCCCAGAAGT ATCATCTGTC TTCATCTTCC CCCCAAAGCC  CAAGGATGTG 751 CTCACCATTA CTCTGACTCC TAAGGTCACG TGTGTTGTGG  TAGACATCAG 801 CAAGGATGAT CCCGAGGTCC AGTTCAGCTG GTTTGTAGAT  GATGTGGAGG 851 TGCACACAGC TCAGACGCAA CCCCGGGAGG AGCAGTTCAA  CAGCACTTTC 901 CGCTCAGTCA GTGAACTTCC CATCATGCAC CAGGACTGGC  TCAATGGCAA 951 GGAGTTCAAA TGCAGGGTCA ACAGTGCAGC TTTCCCTGCC  CCCATCGAGA 1001 AAACCATCTC CAAAACCAAA GGCAGACCGA AGGCTCCACA  GGTGTACACC 1051 ATTCCACCTC CCAAGGAGCA GATGGCCAAG GATAAAGTCA  GTCTGACCTG 1101 CATGATAACA GACTTCTTCC CTGAAGACAT TACTGTGGAG  TGGCAGTGGA 1151 ATGGGCAGCC AGCGGAGAAC TACAAGAACA CTCAGCCCAT  CATGGACACA 1201 GATGGCTCTT ACTTCATCTA CAGCAAGCTC AATGTGCAGA  AGAGCAACTG 1251 GGAGGCAGGA AATACTTTCA CCTGCTCTGT GTTACATGAG  GGCCTGCACA 1301 ACCACCATAC TGAGAAGAGC CTCTCCCACT CTCCTGGTAA  ATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-6 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 155) 1 MGWSWTFLFL LSGTAGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL MKPGASVKMS  CKASGYTFTD 51 YNMHWVKQNQ GKSLEWIGEI NPNSGGSGYN QKFKGKATLT  VDKSSSTAYM 101 ELRSLTSEDS AVYYCARLVY DGSYEDWYFD VWGAGTTVTV  SSAKTTPPSV 151 YPLAPGSAAQ TNSMVTLGCL VKGYFPEPVT VTWNSGSLSS  GVHTFPAVLQ 201 SDLYTLSSSV TVPSSTWPSE TVTCNVAHPA SSTKVDKKIV  PRDCGCKPCI 251 CTVPEVSSVF IFPPKPKDVL TITLTPKVTC VVVDISKDDP  EVQFSWFVDD 301 VEVHTAQTQP REEQFNSTFR SVSELPIMHQ DWLNGKEFKC  RVNSAAFPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG RPKAPQVYTI PPPKEQMAKD KVSLTCMITD  FFPEDITVEW 401 QWNGQPAENY KNTQPIMDTD GSYFIYSKLN VQKSNWEAGN  TFTCSVLHEG 451 LHNHHTEKSL SHSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-6 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 156) 1 ATGGGATGGA GCTGGACCTT TCTCTTCCTC CTGTCAGGAA  CTGCAGGTGT 51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAGCTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTA  ATGAAGCCTG 101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATACAC  ATTCACTGAC 151 TACAACATGC ACTGGGTGAA ACAGAACCAA GGAAAGAGCC  TAGAGTGGAT 201 AGGAGAAATT AATCCTAACA GTGGTGGTAG TGGCTACAAC  CAAAAGTTCA 251 AAGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CTTCCAGCAC  AGCCTACATG 301 GAGCTCCGCA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT  ACTGTGCAAG 351 ATTGGTCTAC GATGGCAGCT ACGAGGACTG GTACTTCGAT  GTCTGGGGCG 401 CAGGGACCAC GGTCACCGTC TCCTCAGCCA AAACGACACC  CCCATCTGTC 451 TATCCACTGG CCCCTGGATC TGCTGCCCAA ACTAACTCCA  TGGTGACCCT 501 GGGATGCCTG GTCAAGGGCT ATTTCCCTGA GCCAGTGACA  GTGACCTGGA 551 ACTCTGGATC CCTGTCCAGC GGTGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC  TGTCCTGCAG 601 TCTGACCTCT ACACTCTGAG CAGCTCAGTG ACTGTCCCCT  CCAGCACCTG 651 GCCCAGCGAG ACCGTCACCT GCAACGTTGC CCACCCGGCC  AGCAGCACCA 701 AGGTGGACAA GAAAATTGTG CCCAGGGATT GTGGTTGTAA  GCCTTGCATA 751 TGTACAGTCC CAGAAGTATC ATCTGTCTTC ATCTTCCCCC  CAAAGCCCAA 801 GGATGTGCTC ACCATTACTC TGACTCCTAA GGTCACGTGT  GTTGTGGTAG 851 ACATCAGCAA GGATGATCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAGCTGGTT  TGTAGATGAT 901 GTGGAGGTGC ACACAGCTCA GACGCAACCC CGGGAGGAGC  AGTTCAACAG 951 CACTTTCCGC TCAGTCAGTG AACTTCCCAT CATGCACCAG  GACTGGCTCA 1001 ATGGCAAGGA GTTCAAATGC AGGGTCAACA GTGCAGCTTT  CCCTGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGC AGACCGAAGG  CTCCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCATT CCACCTCCCA AGGAGCAGAT GGCCAAGGAT  AAAGTCAGTC 1151 TGACCTGCAT GATAACAGAC TTCTTCCCTG AAGACATTAC  TGTGGAGTGG 1201 CAGTGGAATG GGCAGCCAGC GGAGAACTAC AAGAACACTC  AGCCCATCAT 1251 GGACACAGAT GGCTCTTACT TCATCTACAG CAAGCTCAAT  GTGCAGAAGA 1301 GCAACTGGGA GGCAGGAAAT ACTTTCACCT GCTCTGTGTT  ACATGAGGGC 1351 CTGCACAACC ACCATACTGA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCACTCTC  CTGGTAAATG 1401 A Ab-7 The sequences of the Antibody 7 (also referred to herein as Ab-7) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-7 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-7 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 157)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-7 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 158) 1 GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT  CTCTGGGAGA 51 CAGAGTCACC ATCTGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA GGTCATTACC  AATTATTTAT 101 ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT  GATCTACTAC 151 ACATCAAGAT TACACTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG  GCAGTGGGTC 201 TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTAGCAA CCTGGAACAG  GAAGATATTG 251 CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGTGATACGC TTCCGTACAC  GTTCGGAGGG 301 GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA  CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC  TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA  GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA  CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG  TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC  TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT  GT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-7 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 159) 1 MMSSAQFLGL LLLCFQGTRC DIQMTQTTSS LSASLGDRVT  ICCRASQVIT 51 NYLYWYQQKP DGTFKLLIYY TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD  YSLTISNLEQ 101 EDIATYFCQQ GDTLPYTFGG GTKLEIKRAD AAPTVSIFPP  SSEQLTSGGA 151 SVVCFLNNFY PKDINVKWKI DGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKD  STYSMSSTLT 201 LTKDEYERHN SYTCEATHKT STSPIVKSFN RNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-7 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 160) 1 ATGATGTCCT CTGCTCAGTT CCTTGGTCTC CTGTTGCTCT  GTTTTCAAGG 51 TACCAGATGT GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC  CTGTCTGCCT 101 CTCTGGGAGA CAGAGTCACC ATCTGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA  GGTCATTACC 151 AATTATTTAT ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT  TTAAACTCCT 201 GATCTACTAC ACATCAAGAT TACACTCAGG AGTCCCATCA  AGGTTCAGTG 251 GCAGTGGGTC TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTAGCAA  CCTGGAACAG 301 GAAGATATTG CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGTGATACGC  TTCCGTACAC 351 GTTCGGAGGG GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT  GCTGCACCAA 401 CTGTATCCAT CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC  TGGAGGTGCC 451 TCAGTCGTGT GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA  TCAATGTCAA 501 GTGGAAGATT GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG  AACAGTTGGA 551 CTGATCAGGA CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG  CACCCTCACG 601 TTGACCAAGG ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT  GTGAGGCCAC 651 TCACAAGACA TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC  AGGAATGAGT 701 GT Ab-7 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-7 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 161)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-7 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 162) 1 GAGGTCCAGC TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTAATGAAGC  CTGGGGCTTC 51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA CACATTCACT  GACTACAACA 101 TGCACTGGAT GAAGCAGAAC CAAGGAAAGA GCCTAGAATG  GATAGGAGAA 151 ATTAATCCTA ACAGTGGTGG TGCTGGCTAC AACCAGCAGT  TCAAAGGCAA 201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCCTCCAG GACAGCCTAC  ATGGAGCTCC 251 GCAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC  AAGATTGGGC 301 TACGTTGGTA ATTACGAGGA CTGGTACTTC GATGTCTGGG  GCGCAGGGAC 351 CACGGTCACC GTCTCCTCAG CCAAAACGAC ACCCCCATCT  GTCTATCCAC 401 TGGCCCCTGG ATCTGCTGCC CAAACTAACT CCATGGTGAC  CCTGGGATGC 451 CTGGTCAAGG GCTATTTCCC TGAGCCAGTG ACAGTGACCT  GGAACTCTGG 501 ATCCCTGTCC AGCGGTGTGC ACACCTTCCC AGCTGTCCTG  CAGTCTGACC 551 TCTACACTCT GAGCAGCTCA GTGACTGTCC CCTCCAGCAC  CTGGCCCAGC 601 GAGACCGTCA CCTGCAACGT TGCCCACCCG GCCAGCAGCA  CCAAGGTGGA 651 CAAGAAAATT GTGCCCAGGG ATTGTGGTTG TAAGCCTTGC  ATATGTACAG 701 TCCCAGAAGT ATCATCTGTC TTCATCTTCC CCCCAAAGCC  CAAGGATGTG 751 CTCACCATTA CTCTGACTCC TAAGGTCACG TGTGTTGTGG  TAGACATCAG 801 CAAGGATGAT CCCGAGGTCC AGTTCAGCTG GTTTGTAGAT  GATGTGGAGG 851 TGCACACAGC TCAGACGCAA CCCCGGGAGG AGCAGTTCAA  CAGCACTTTC 901 CGCTCAGTCA GTGAACTTCC CATCATGCAC CAGGACTGGC  TCAATGGCAA 951 GGAGTTCAAA TGCAGGGTCA ACAGTGCAGC TTTCCCTGCC  CCCATCGAGA 1001 AAACCATCTC CAAAACCAAA GGCAGACCGA AGGCTCCACA  GGTGTACACC 1051 ATTCCACCTC CCAAGGAGCA GATGGCCAAG GATAAAGTCA  GTCTGACCTG 1101 CATGATAACA GACTTCTTCC CTGAAGACAT TACTGTGGAG  TGGCAGTGGA 1151 ATGGGCAGCC AGCGGAGAAC TACAAGAACA CTCAGCCCAT  CATGGACACA 1201 GATGGCTCTT ACTTCATCTA CAGCAAGCTC AATGTGCAGA  AGAGCAACTG 1251 GGAGGCAGGA AATACTTTCA CCTGCTCTGT GTTACATGAG  GGCCTGCACA 1301 ACCACCATAC TGAGAAGAGC CTCTCCCACT CTCCTGGTAA  A Amino acid sequence of the Ab-7 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 163) 1 MGWSWTFLFL LSGTAGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL MKPGASVKMS  CKASGYTFTD 51 YNMHWMKQNQ GKSLEWIGEI NPNSGGAGYN QQFKGKATLT  VDKSSRTAYM 101 ELRSLTSEDS AVYYCARLGY VGNYEDWYFD VWGAGTTVTV  SSAKTTPPSV 151 YPLAPGSAAQ TNSMVTLGCL VKGYFPEPVT VTWNSGSLSS  GVHTFPAVLQ 201 SDLYTLSSSV TVPSSTWPSE TVTCNVAHPA SSTKVDKKIV  PRDCGCKPCI 251 CTVPEVSSVF IFPPKPKDVL TITLTPKVTC VVVDISKDDP  EVQFSWFVDD 301 VEVHTAQTQP REEQFNSTFR SVSELPIMHQ DWLNGKEFKC  RVNSAAFPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG RPKAPQVYTI PPPKEQMAKD KVSLTCMITD  FFPEDITVEW 401 QWNGQPAENY KNTQPIMDTD GSYFIYSKLN VQKSNWEAGN  TFTCSVLHEG 451 LHNHHTEKSL SHSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-7 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 164) 1 ATGGGATGGA GCTGGACCTT TCTCTTCCTC CTGTCAGGAA  CTGCAGGTGT 51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAGCTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTA  ATGAAGCCTG 101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATACAC  ATTCACTGAC 151 TACAACATGC ACTGGATGAA GCAGAACCAA GGAAAGAGCC  TAGAATGGAT 201 AGGAGAAATT AATCCTAACA GTGGTGGTGC TGGCTACAAC  CAGCAGTTCA 251 AAGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CCTCCAGGAC  AGCCTACATG 301 GAGCTCCGCA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT  ACTGTGCAAG 351 ATTGGGCTAC GTTGGTAATT ACGAGGACTG GTACTTCGAT  GTCTGGGGCG 401 CAGGGACCAC GGTCACCGTC TCCTCAGCCA AAACGACACC  CCCATCTGTC 451 TATCCACTGG CCCCTGGATC TGCTGCCCAA ACTAACTCCA  TGGTGACCCT 501 GGGATGCCTG GTCAAGGGCT ATTTCCCTGA GCCAGTGACA  GTGACCTGGA 551 ACTCTGGATC CCTGTCCAGC GGTGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC  TGTCCTGCAG 601 TCTGACCTCT ACACTCTGAG CAGCTCAGTG ACTGTCCCCT  CCAGCACCTG 651 GCCCAGCGAG ACCGTCACCT GCAACGTTGC CCACCCGGCC  AGCAGCACCA 701 AGGTGGACAA GAAAATTGTG CCCAGGGATT GTGGTTGTAA  GCCTTGCATA 751 TGTACAGTCC CAGAAGTATC ATCTGTCTTC ATCTTCCCCC  CAAAGCCCAA 801 GGATGTGCTC ACCATTACTC TGACTCCTAA GGTCACGTGT  GTTGTGGTAG 851 ACATCAGCAA GGATGATCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAGCTGGTT  TGTAGATGAT 901 GTGGAGGTGC ACACAGCTCA GACGCAACCC CGGGAGGAGC  AGTTCAACAG 951 CACTTTCCGC TCAGTCAGTG AACTTCCCAT CATGCACCAG  GACTGGCTCA 1001 ATGGCAAGGA GTTCAAATGC AGGGTCAACA GTGCAGCTTT  CCCTGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGC AGACCGAAGG  CTCCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCATT CCACCTCCCA AGGAGCAGAT GGCCAAGGAT  AAAGTCAGTC 1151 TGACCTGCAT GATAACAGAC TTCTTCCCTG AAGACATTAC  TGTGGAGTGG 1201 CAGTGGAATG GGCAGCCAGC GGAGAACTAC AAGAACACTC  AGCCCATCAT 1251 GGACACAGAT GGCTCTTACT TCATCTACAG CAAGCTCAAT  GTGCAGAAGA 1301 GCAACTGGGA GGCAGGAAAT ACTTTCACCT GCTCTGTGTT  ACATGAGGGC 1351 CTGCACAACC ACCATACTGA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCACTCTC  CTGGTAAA Ab-8 The sequences of the Antibody 8 (also referred to herein as Ab-8) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-8 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-8 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 165)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-8 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 166) 1 GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT  CTCTGGGAGA 51 CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA AGACATTAGC  AATTATTTAA 101 ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT  TATCTTCTAC 151 ACATCAAGAT TACTCTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG  GCAGTGGGTC 201 TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA CCTGGAGCAA  GAAGATTTTG 251 CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC TTCCGTACAC  TTTCGGAGGG 301 GGGACCAAAC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA  CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC  TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA  GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA  CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG  TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC  TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT   GTTAG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-8 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 167) 1 MMSSAQFLGL LLLCFQGTRC DIQMTQTTSS LSASLGDRVS  ISCRASQDIS 51 NYLNWYQQKP DGTFKLLIFY TSRLLSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD  YSLTIYNLEQ 101 EDFATYFCQQ GDTLPYTFGG GTKLEIKRAD AAPTVSIFPP  SSEQLTSGGA 151 SVVCFLNNFY PKDINVKWKI DGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKD  STYSMSSTLT 201 LTKDEYERHN SYTCEATHKT STSPIVKSFN RNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-8 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 168) 1 ATGATGTCCT CTGCTCAGTT CCTTGGTCTC CTGTTGCTCT  GTTTTCAAGG 51 TACCAGATGT GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC  CTGTCTGCCT 101 CTCTGGGAGA CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA  AGACATTAGC 151 AATTATTTAA ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT  TTAAACTCCT 201 TATCTTCTAC ACATCAAGAT TACTCTCAGG AGTCCCATCA  AGGTTCAGTG 251 GCAGTGGGTC TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA  CCTGGAGCAA 301 GAAGATTTTG CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC  TTCCGTACAC 351 TTTCGGAGGG GGGACCAAAC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT  GCTGCACCAA 401 CTGTATCCAT CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC  TGGAGGTGCC 451 TCAGTCGTGT GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA  TCAATGTCAA 501 GTGGAAGATT GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG  AACAGTTGGA 551 CTGATCAGGA CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG  CACCCTCACG 601 TTGACCAAGG ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT  GTGAGGCCAC 651 TCACAAGACA TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC  AGGAATGAGT 701 GTTAG Ab-8 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-8 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 169)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-8 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 170) 1 GAGGTCCAAC TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTAATGAAGC  CTGGGGCTTC 51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA TACATTCACT  GACTACAACA 101 TGCACTGGGT GAAGCAGAAC CAAGGAAAGA CCCTAGACTG  GATAGGAGAA 151 ATTAATCCTA ACAGTGGTGG TGCTGGCTAC AACCAGAAGT  TCAAGGGCAA 201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCCTCCAC CACAGCCTAC  ATGGAGCTCC Amino acid sequence of the Ab-8 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 171) 1 MGWSWTFLFL LSGTAGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL MKPGASVKMS  CKASGYTFTD 51 YNMHWVKQNQ GKTLDWIGEI NPNSGGAGYN QKFKGKATLT  VDKSSTTAYM 101 ELRSLTSEDS AVYYCARLGY DDIYDDWYFD VWGAGTTVTV  SSAKTTPPSV 151 YPLAPGSAAQ TNSMVTLGCL VKGYFPEPVT VTWNSGSLSS  GVHTFPAVLQ 201 SDLYTLSSSV TVPSSTWPSE TVTCNVAHPA SSTKVDKKIV  PRDCGCKPCI 251 CTVPEVSSVF IFPPKPKDVL TITLTPKVTC VVVDISKDDP  EVQFSWFVDD 301 VEVHTAQTQP REEQFNSTFR SVSELPIMHQ DWLNGKEFKC  RVNSAAFPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG RPKAPQVYTI PPPKEQMAKD KVSLTCMITD  FFPEDITVEW 401 QWNGQPAENY KNTQPIMDTD GSYFIYSKLN VQKSNWEAGN  TFTCSVLHEG 451 LHNHHTEKSL SHSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-8 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 172)    1 ATGGGATGGA GCTGGACCTT TCTCTTCCTC CTGTCAGGAA CTGCAGGTGT   51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAACTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTA ATGAAGCCTG  101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATATAC ATTCACTGAC  151 TACAACATGC ACTGGGTGAA GCAGAACCAA GGAAAGACCC TAGACTGGAT  201 AGGAGAAATT AATCCTAACA GTGGTGGTGC TGGCTACAAC CAGAAGTTCA  251 AGGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CCTCCACCAC AGCCTACATG  301 GAGCTCCGCA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG  351 ATTGGGCTAC GATGATATCT ACGACGACTG GTACTTCGAT GTCTGGGGCG  401 CAGGGACCAC GGTCACCGTC TCCTCAGCCA AAACGACACC CCCATCTGTC  451 TATCCACTGG CCCCTGGATC TGCTGCCCAA ACTAACTCCA TGGTGACCCT  501 GGGATGCCTG GTCAAGGGCT ATTTCCCTGA GCCAGTGACA GTGACCTGGA  551 ACTCTGGATC CCTGTCCAGC GGTGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC TGTCCTGCAG  601 TCTGACCTCT ACACTCTGAG CAGCTCAGTG ACTGTCCCCT CCAGCACCTG  651 GCCCAGCGAG ACCGTCACCT GCAACGTTGC CCACCCGGCC AGCAGCACCA  701 AGGTGGACAA GAAAATTGTG CCCAGGGATT GTGGTTGTAA GCCTTGCATA  751 TGTACAGTCC CAGAAGTATC ATCTGTCTTC ATCTTCCCCC CAAAGCCCAA  801 GGATGTGCTC ACCATTACTC TGACTCCTAA GGTCACGTGT GTTGTGGTAG  851 ACATCAGCAA GGATGATCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAGCTGGTT TGTAGATGAT  901 GTGGAGGTGC ACACAGCTCA GACGCAACCC CGGGAGGAGC AGTTCAACAG  951 CACTTTCCGC TCAGTCAGTG AACTTCCCAT CATGCACCAG GACTGGCTCA 1001 ATGGCAAGGA GTTCAAATGC AGGGTCAACA GTGCAGCTTT CCCTGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGC AGACCGAAGG CTCCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCATT CCACCTCCCA AGGAGCAGAT GGCCAAGGAT AAAGTCAGTC 1151 TGACCTGCAT GATAACAGAC TTCTTCCCTG AAGACATTAC TGTGGAGTGG 1201 CAGTGGAATG GGCAGCCAGC GGAGAACTAC AAGAACACTC AGCCCATCAT 1251 GGACACAGAT GGCTCTTACT TCATCTACAG CAAGCTCAAT GTGCAGAAGA 1301 GCAACTGGGA GGCAGGAAAT ACTTTCACCT GCTCTGTGTT ACATGAGGGC 1351 CTGCACAACC ACCATACTGA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCACTCTC CTGGTAAATG 1401 A Ab-9 The sequences of the Antibody 9 (also referred to herein as Ab-9) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-9 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-9 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 173)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-9 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 174)   1 GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAT TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT CTCTGGGAGA  51 CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA AGACATTAGC AATTATTTAA 101 ATTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT TATCTTCTAC 151 ACATCAAGAT TATTTTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG GCAGTGGGTC 201 TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA CCTGGAGCAA GAAGATTTTG 251 CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC TTCCGTACAC TTTCGGAGGG 301 GGGACCAAGG TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT GT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-9 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 175)   1 MMSSAQFLGL LLLCFQGTRC DIQMTQITSS LSASLGDRVS ISCRASQDIS  51 NYLNWYQQKP DGTFKLLIFY TSRLFSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD YSLTIYNLEQ 101 EDFATYFCQQ GDTLPYTFGG GTKVEIKRAD AAPTVSIFPP SSEQLTSGGA 151 SVVCFLNNFY PKDINVKWKI DGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKD STYSMSSTLT 201 LTKDEYERHN SYTCEATHKT STSPIVKSFN RNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-9 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 176)   1 ATGATGTCCT CTGCTCAGTT CCTTGGTCTC CTGTTGCTCT GTTTTCAAGG  51 TACCAGATGT GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAT TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT 101 CTCTGGGAGA CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA AGACATTAGC 151 AATTATTTAA ATTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT 201 TATCTTCTAC ACATCAAGAT TATTTTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG 251 GCAGTGGGTC TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA CCTGGAGCAA 301 GAAGATTTTG CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC TTCCGTACAC 351 TTTCGGAGGG GGGACCAAGG TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA 401 CTGTATCCAT CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC 451 TCAGTCGTGT GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA 501 GTGGAAGATT GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA 551 CTGATCAGGA CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG 601 TTGACCAAGG ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC 651 TCACAAGACA TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT 701 GT Ab-9 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-9 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 177)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-9 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 178)    1 GAGGTCCAAC TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTAATGAAGC CTGGGACTTC   51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA TACATTCACT GACTACAACA  101 TGCACTGGGT GAAGCAGACC CAAGGAAAGA CCCTAGAGTG GATAGGAGAA  151 ATTAATCCTA ACAGTGGTGG TGCTGGCTAC AACCAGAAGT TCAAGGGCAA  201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCCTCCAC CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTCC  251 GCAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC AAAATTGGGC  301 TACGATGATA TCTACGACGA CTGGTATTTC GATGTCTGGG GCGCAGGGAC  351 CACGGTCACC GTCTCCTCAG CCAAAACAAC AGCCCCATCG GTCTATCCAC  401 TGGCCCCTGT GTGTGGAGAT ACAACTGGCT CCTCGGTGAC TCTAGGATGC  451 CTGGTCAAGG GTTATTTCCC TGAGCCAGTG ACCTTGACCT GGAACTCTGG  501 ATCCCTGTCC AGTGATGTGC ACACCTTCCC AGCTCTCCTG CAGTCTGGCC  551 TCTACACCCT CAGCAGCTCA GTGACTGTAA CCACCTGGCC CAGCCAGACC  601 ATCACCTGCA ATGTGGCCCA CCCGGCAAGC AGCACCAAAG TGGACAAGAA  651 AATTGAGCCC AGAGGGTCCC CAACACATAA ACCCTGTCCT CCATGCCCAG  701 CTCCTAACCT CTTGGGTGGA CCATCCGTCT TCATCTTCCC TCCAAAGATC  751 AAGGATGTAC TCATGATCTC CCTGAGCCCC ATGGTCACGT GTGTGGTGGT  801 GGATGTGAGC GAGGATGACC CAGATGTCCA TGTCAGCTGG TTCGTGAACA  851 ACGTGGAAGT ACACACAGCT CAGACACAAA CCCATAGAGA GGATTACAAC  901 AGTACTATCC GGGTGGTCAG TGCCCTCCCC ATCCAGCACC AGGACTGGAT  951 GAGTGGCAAG GAGTTCAAAT GCAAGGTCAA CAACAAAGCC CTCCCAGCGC 1001 CCATCGAGAG AACCATCTCA AAACCCAAAG GGCCAGTAAG AGCTCCACAG 1051 GTATATGTCT TGCCTCCACC AGAAGAAGAG ATGACTAAGA AACAGGTCAC 1101 TCTGACCTGC ATGATCACAG ACTTCATGCC TGAAGACATT TACGTGGAGT 1151 GGACCAACAA CGGGCAAACA GAGCTAAACT ACAAGAACAC TGAACCAGTC 1201 CTGGACTCTG ATGGTTCTTA CTTCATGTAC AGCAAGCTGA GAGTGGAAAA 1251 GAAGAACTGG GTGGAAAGAA ATAGCTACTC CTGTTCAGTG GTCCACGAGG 1301 GTCTGCACAA TCACCACACG ACTAAGAGCT TCTCCCGGAC TCCGGGTAAA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-9 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 179)   1 MGWSWTFLFL LSGTAGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL MKPGTSVKMS CKASGYTFTD  51 YNMHWVKQTQ GKTLEWIGEI NPNSGGAGYN QKFKGKATLT VDKSSTTAYM 101 ELRSLTSEDS AVYYCAKLGY DDIYDDWYFD VWGAGTTVTV SSAKTTAPSV 151 YPLAPVCGDT TGSSVTLGCL VKGYFPEPVT LTWNSGSLSS DVHTFPALLQ 201 SGLYTLSSSV TVTTWPSQTI TCNVAHPASS TKVDKKIEPR GSPTHKPCPP 251 CPAPNLLGGP SVFIFPPKIK DVLMISLSPM VTCVVVDVSE DDPDVHVSWF 301 VNNVEVHTAQ TQTHREDYNS TIRVVSALPI QHQDWMSGKE FKCKVNNKAL 351 PAPIERTISK PKGPVRAPQV YVLPPPEEEM TKKQVTLTCM ITDFMPEDIY 401 VEWTNNGQTE LNYKNTEPVL DSDGSYFMYS KLRVEKKNWV ERNSYSCSVV 451 HEGLHNHHTT KSFSRTPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-9 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 180)    1 ATGGGATGGA GCTGGACCTT TCTCTTCCTC CTGTCAGGAA CTGCAGGTGT   51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAACTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTA ATGAAGCCTG  101 GGACTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATATAC ATTCACTGAC  151 TACAACATGC ACTGGGTGAA GCAGACCCAA GGAAAGACCC TAGAGTGGAT  201 AGGAGAAATT AATCCTAACA GTGGTGGTGC TGGCTACAAC CAGAAGTTCA  251 AGGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CCTCCACCAC AGCCTACATG  301 GAGCTCCGCA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAA  351 ATTGGGCTAC GATGATATCT ACGACGACTG GTATTTCGAT GTCTGGGGCG  401 CAGGGACCAC GGTCACCGTC TCCTCAGCCA AAACAACAGC CCCATCGGTC  451 TATCCACTGG CCCCTGTGTG TGGAGATACA ACTGGCTCCT CGGTGACTCT  501 AGGATGCCTG GTCAAGGGTT ATTTCCCTGA GCCAGTGACC TTGACCTGGA  551 ACTCTGGATC CCTGTCCAGT GATGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC TCTCCTGCAG  601 TCTGGCCTCT ACACCCTCAG CAGCTCAGTG ACTGTAACCA CCTGGCCCAG  651 CCAGACCATC ACCTGCAATG TGGCCCACCC GGCAAGCAGC ACCAAAGTGG  701 ACAAGAAAAT TGAGCCCAGA GGGTCCCCAA CACATAAACC CTGTCCTCCA  751 TGCCCAGCTC CTAACCTCTT GGGTGGACCA TCCGTCTTCA TCTTCCCTCC  801 AAAGATCAAG GATGTACTCA TGATCTCCCT GAGCCCCATG GTCACGTGTG  851 TGGTGGTGGA TGTGAGCGAG GATGACCCAG ATGTCCATGT CAGCTGGTTC  901 GTGAACAACG TGGAAGTACA CACAGCTCAG ACACAAACCC ATAGAGAGGA  951 TTACAACAGT ACTATCCGGG TGGTCAGTGC CCTCCCCATC CAGCACCAGG 1001 ACTGGATGAG TGGCAAGGAG TTCAAATGCA AGGTCAACAA CAAAGCCCTC 1051 CCAGCGCCCA TCGAGAGAAC CATCTCAAAA CCCAAAGGGC CAGTAAGAGC 1101 TCCACAGGTA TATGTCTTGC CTCCACCAGA AGAAGAGATG ACTAAGAAAC 1151 AGGTCACTCT GACCTGCATG ATCACAGACT TCATGCCTGA AGACATTTAC 1201 GTGGAGTGGA CCAACAACGG GCAAACAGAG CTAAACTACA AGAACACTGA 1251 ACCAGTCCTG GACTCTGATG GTTCTTACTT CATGTACAGC AAGCTGAGAG 1301 TGGAAAAGAA GAACTGGGTG GAAAGAAATA GCTACTCCTG TTCAGTGGTC 1351 CACGAGGGTC TGCACAATCA CCACACGACT AAGAGCTTCT CCCGGACTCC 1401 GGGTAAA Ab-10 The sequences of the Antibody 10 (also referred to herein as Ab-10) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-10 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-10 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 181)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-10 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 182)   1 GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT CTCTGGGAGA  51 CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA AGACATTAGC AATTATTTAA 101 ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT TATCTTCTAC 151 ACATCAAGAT TACTCTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG GCAGTGGGTC 201 TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA CCTGGAGCAA GAAGATTTTG 251 CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC TTCCGTACAC TTTCGGAGGG 301 GGGACCAAAC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACTA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT GTTAG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-10 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 183)   1 MMSSAQFLGL LLLCFQGTRC DIQMTQTTSS LSASLGDRVS ISCRASQDIS  51 NYLNWYQQKP DGTFKLLIFY TSRLLSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD YSLTIYNLEQ 101 EDFATYFCQQ GDTLPYTFGG GTKLEIKRAD AAPTVSIFPL SSEQLTSGGA 151 SVVCFLNNFY PKDINVKWKI DGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKD STYSMSSTLT 201 LTKDEYERHN SYTCEATHKT STSPIVKSFN RNEC  Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-10 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 184)   1 ATGATGTCCT CTGCTCAGTT CCTTGGTCTC CTGTTGCTCT GTTTTCAAGG  51 TACCAGATGT GATATCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACATCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT 101 CTCTGGGAGA CAGGGTCTCC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA AGACATTAGC 151 AATTATTTAA ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTT TTAAACTCCT 201 TATCTTCTAC ACATCAAGAT TACTCTCAGG AGTCCCATCA AGGTTCAGTG 251 GCAGTGGGTC TGGAACAGAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTTACAA CCTGGAGCAA 301 GAAGATTTTG CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGAGATACGC TTCCGTACAC 351 TTTCGGAGGG GGGACCAAAC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA 401 CTGTATCCAT CTTCCCACTA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC 451 TCAGTCGTGT GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA 501 GTGGAAGATT GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA 551 CTGATCAGGA CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG 601 TTGACCAAGG ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC 651 TCACAAGACA TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT 701 GTTAG Ab-10 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-10 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 185)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-10 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 186)    1 GAGGTCCAAC TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTAATGAAGC CTGGGGCTTC   51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA TACATTCACT GACTACAACA  101 TGCACTGGGT GAAGCAGAAC CAAGGAAAGA CCCTAGAATG GATAGGAGAA  151 ATTAATCCTA ACAGTGGTGG TGCTGGCTAC AACCAGAAGT TCAAGGGCAA  201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCCTCCAC CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTCC  251 GCAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC AAGATTGGGC  301 TACGATGATA TCTACGACGA CTGGTACTTC GATGTCTGGG GCGCAGGGAC  351 CACGGTCACC GTCTCCTCAG CCAAAACGAC ACCCCCATCT GTCTATCCAC  401 TGGCCCCTGG ATCTGCTGCC CAAACTAACT CCATGGTGAC CCTGGGATGC  451 CTGGTCAAGG GCTATTTCCC TGAGCCAGTG ACAGTGACCT GGAACTCTGG  501 ATCCCTGTCC AGCGGTGTGC ACACCTTCCC AGCTGTCCTG CAGTCTGACC  551 TCTACACTCT GAGCAGCTCA GTGACTGTCC CCTCCAGCAC CTGGCCCAGC  601 GAGACCGTCA CCTGCAACGT TGCCCACCCG GCCAGCAGCA CCAAGGTGGA  651 CAAGAAAATT GTGCCCAGGG ATTGTGGTTG TAAGCCTTGC ATATGTACAG  701 TCCCAGAAGT ATCATCTGTC TTCATCTTCC CCCCAAAGCC CAAGGATGTG  751 CTCACCATTA CTCTGACTCC TAAGGTCACG TGTGTTGTGG TAGACATCAG  801 CAAGGATGAT CCCGAGGTCC AGTTCAGCTG GTTTGTAGAT GATGTGGAGG  851 TGCACACAGC TCAGACGCAA CCCCGGGAGG AGCAGTTCAA CAGCACTTTC  901 CGCTCAGTCA GTGAACTTCC CATCATGCAC CAGGACTGGC TCAATGGCAA  951 GGAGTTCAAA TGCAGGGTCA ACAGTGCAGC TTTCCCTGCC CCCATCGAGA 1001 AAACCATCTC CAAAACCAAA GGCAGACCGA AGGCTCCACA GGTGTACACC 1051 ATTCCACCTC CCAAGGAGCA GATGGCCAAG GATAAAGTCA GTCTGACCTG 1101 CATGATAACA GACTTCTTCC CTGAAGACAT TACTGTGGAG TGGCAGTGGA 1151 ATGGGCAGCC AGCGGAGAAC TACAAGAACA CTCAGCCCAT CATGGACACA 1201 GATGGCTCTT ACTTCATCTA CAGCAAGCTC AATGTGCAGA AGAGCAACTG 1251 GGAGGCAGGA AATACTTTCA CCTGCTCTGT GTTACATGAG GGCCTGCACA 1301 ACCACCATAC TGAGAAGAGC CTCTCCCACT CTCCTGGTAA ATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-10 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 187)   1 MGWSWTFLFL LSGTAGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL MKPGASVKMS CKASGYTFTD  51 YNMHWVKQNQ GKTLEWIGEI NPNSGGAGYN QKFKGKATLT VDKSSTTAYM 101 ELRSLTSEDS AVYYCARLGY DDIYDDWYFD VWGAGTTVTV SSAKTTPPSV 151 YPLAPGSAAQ TNSMVTLGCL VKGYFPEPVT VTWNSGSLSS GVHTFPAVLQ 201 SDLYTLSSSV TVPSSTWPSE TVTCNVAHPA SSTKVDKKIV PRDCGCKPCI 251 CTVPEVSSVF IFPPKPKDVL TITLTPKVTC VVVDISKDDP EVQFSWFVDD 301 VEVHTAQTQP REEQFNSTFR SVSELPIMHQ DWLNGKEFKC RVNSAAFPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG RPKAPQVYTI PPPKEQMAKD KVSLTCMITD FFPEDITVEW 401 QWNGQPAENY KNTQPIMDTD GSYFIYSKLN VQKSNWEAGN TFTCSVLHEG 451 LHNHHTEKSL SHSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-10 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 188)    1 ATGGGATGGA GCTGGACCTT TCTCTTCCTC CTGTCAGGAA CTGCAGGTGT   51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAACTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTA ATGAAGCCTG  101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATATAC ATTCACTGAC  151 TACAACATGC ACTGGGTGAA GCAGAACCAA GGAAAGACCC TAGAATGGAT  201 AGGAGAAATT AATCCTAACA GTGGTGGTGC TGGCTACAAC CAGAAGTTCA  251 AGGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CCTCCACCAC AGCCTACATG  301 GAGCTCCGCA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG  351 ATTGGGCTAC GATGATATCT ACGACGACTG GTACTTCGAT GTCTGGGGCG  401 CAGGGACCAC GGTCACCGTC TCCTCAGCCA AAACGACACC CCCATCTGTC  451 TATCCACTGG CCCCTGGATC TGCTGCCCAA ACTAACTCCA TGGTGACCCT  501 GGGATGCCTG GTCAAGGGCT ATTTCCCTGA GCCAGTGACA GTGACCTGGA  551 ACTCTGGATC CCTGTCCAGC GGTGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC TGTCCTGCAG  601 TCTGACCTCT ACACTCTGAG CAGCTCAGTG ACTGTCCCCT CCAGCACCTG  651 GCCCAGCGAG ACCGTCACCT GCAACGTTGC CCACCCGGCC AGCAGCACCA  701 AGGTGGACAA GAAAATTGTG CCCAGGGATT GTGGTTGTAA GCCTTGCATA  751 TGTACAGTCC CAGAAGTATC ATCTGTCTTC ATCTTCCCCC CAAAGCCCAA  801 GGATGTGCTC ACCATTACTC TGACTCCTAA GGTCACGTGT GTTGTGGTAG  851 ACATCAGCAA GGATGATCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAGCTGGTT TGTAGATGAT  901 GTGGAGGTGC ACACAGCTCA GACGCAACCC CGGGAGGAGC AGTTCAACAG  951 CACTTTCCGC TCAGTCAGTG AACTTCCCAT CATGCACCAG GACTGGCTCA 1001 ATGGCAAGGA GTTCAAATGC AGGGTCAACA GTGCAGCTTT CCCTGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGC AGACCGAAGG CTCCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCATT CCACCTCCCA AGGAGCAGAT GGCCAAGGAT AAAGTCAGTC 1151 TGACCTGCAT GATAACAGAC TTCTTCCCTG AAGACATTAC TGTGGAGTGG 1201 CAGTGGAATG GGCAGCCAGC GGAGAACTAC AAGAACACTC AGCCCATCAT 1251 GGACACAGAT GGCTCTTACT TCATCTACAG CAAGCTCAAT GTGCAGAAGA 1301 GCAACTGGGA GGCAGGAAAT ACTTTCACCT GCTCTGTGTT ACATGAGGGC 1351 CTGCACAACC ACCATACTGA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCACTCTC CTGGTAAATG 1401 A  Ab-11 The sequences of the Antibody 11 (also referred to herein as Ab-11) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-11 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-11 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 189)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-11 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 190)   1 CAAATTGTTC TCTCCCAGTC TCCAGCATTC CTGTCTGTAT CTCCAGGGGA  51 TAAGGTCACA ATGACTTGCA GGGCCAGCTC AAGTATAAGT TACATACACT 101 GGTTTCAGCA GAAGCCAGGA TCCTCCCCCA GATCCTGGAT TTATGCCACA 151 TCCAACCTGG CTTCTGGAGT CCCTGGTCGC TTCAGTGGCA GTGGGTCTGG 201 GACCTCTTAC TCTCTCACAA TCAGCAGAGT GGAGGCTGAG GATGCTGCCA 251 CTTATTACTG CCAGCAGTGG AGTAGTGACC CACTCACGTT CGGTGCTGGG 301 ACCAAGCTGG AGCTGAAACG GGCTGATGCT GCACCAACTG TATCCATCTT 351 CCCACCATCC AGTGAGCAGT TAACATCTGG AGGTGCCTCA GTCGTGTGCT 401 TCTTGAACAA CTTCTACCCC AAAGACATCA ATGTCAAGTG GAAGATTGAT 451 GGCAGTGAAC GACAAAATGG CGTCCTGAAC AGTTGGACTG ATCAGGACAG 501 CAAAGACAGC ACCTACAGCA TGAGCAGCAC CCTCACGTTG ACCAAGGACG 551 AGTATGAACG ACATAACAGC TATACCTGTG AGGCCACTCA CAAGACATCA 601 ACTTCACCCA TTGTCAAGAG CTTCAACAGG AATGAGTGTT AG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-11 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 191)   1 MDFQVQIFSF LLISASVIMS RGQIVLSQSP AFLSVSPGDK VTMTCRASSS  51 ISYIHWFQQK PGSSPRSWIY ATSNLASGVP GRFSGSGSGT SYSLTISRVE 101 AEDAATYYCQ QWSSDPLTFG AGTKLELKRA DAAPTVSIFP PSSEQLTSGG 151 ASVVCFLNNF YPKDINVKWK IDGSERQNGV LNSWTDQDSK DSTYSMSSTL 201 TLTKDEYERH NSYTCEATHK TSTSPIVKSF NRNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-11 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 192) 1 ATGGATTTTC AAGTGCAGAT TTTCAGCTTC CTGCTAATCA GTGCTTCAGT 51 CATAATGTCC AGAGGACAAA TTGTTCTCTC CCAGTCTCCA GCATTCCTGT 101 CTGTATCTCC AGGGGATAAG GTCACAATGA CTTGCAGGGC CAGCTCAAGT 151 ATAAGTTACA TACACTGGTT TCAGCAGAAG CCAGGATCCT CCCCCAGATC 201 CTGGATTTAT GCCACATCCA ACCTGGCTTC TGGAGTCCCT GGTCGCTTCA 251 GTGGCAGTGG GTCTGGGACC TCTTACTCTC TCACAATCAG CAGAGTGGAG 301 GCTGAGGATG CTGCCACTTA TTACTGCCAG CAGTGGAGTA GTGACCCACT 351 CACGTTCGGT GCTGGGACCA AGCTGGAGCT GAAACGGGCT GATGCTGCAC 401 CAACTGTATC CATCTTCCCA CCATCCAGTG AGCAGTTAAC ATCTGGAGGT 451 GCCTCAGTCG TGTGCTTCTT GAACAACTTC TACCCCAAAG ACATCAATGT 501 CAAGTGGAAG ATTGATGGCA GTGAACGACA AAATGGCGTC CTGAACAGTT 551 GGACTGATCA GGACAGCAAA GACAGCACCT ACAGCATGAG CAGCACCCTC 601 ACGTTGACCA AGGACGAGTA TGAACGACAT AACAGCTATA CCTGTGAGGC 651 CACTCACAAG ACATCAACTT CACCCATTGT CAAGAGCTTC AACAGGAATG 701 AGTGTTAG Ab-11 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-11 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 193)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-11 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 194) 1 GAAGTTCAGC TGCAACAGTC TGGGGCAGAC CTTGTGCAGC CAGGGGCCTC 51 AGTCAAGGTG TCCTGCACAG CTTCTGGCTT CGACATTAAG GACTACTATA 101 TACACTGGAT GAAACAGAGG CCTGACCAGG GCCTGGAGTG GATTGGAAGG 151 GTTGATCCTG ACAATGGTGA GACTGAATTT GCCCCGAAGT TCCCGGGCAA 201 GGCCACTTTT ACAACAGACA CATCCTCCAA CACAGCCTAC CTACAACTCA 251 GAGGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC ACTGCCATCT ATTACTGTGG GAGAGAAGAC 301 TACGATGGTA CCTACACCTG GTTTCCTTAT TGGGGCCAAG GGACTCTGGT 351 CACTGTCTCT GCAGCCAAAA CGACACCCCC ATCTGTCTAT CCACTGGCCC 401 CTGGATCTGC TGCCCAAACT AACTCCATGG TGACCCTGGG ATGCCTGGTC 451 AAGGGCTATT TCCCTGAGCC AGTGACAGTG ACCTGGAACT CTGGATCCCT 501 GTCCAGCGGT GTGCACACCT TCCCAGCTGT CCTGCAGTCT GACCTCTACA 551 CTCTGAGCAG CTCAGTGACT GTCCCCTCCA GCACCTGGCC CAGCGAGACC 601 GTCACCTGCA ACGTTGCCCA CCCGGCCAGC AGCACCAAGG TGGACAAGAA 651 AATTGTGCCC AGGGATTGTG GTTGTAAGCC TTGCATATGT ACAGTCCCAG 701 AAGTATCATC TGTCTTCATC TTCCCCCCAA AGCCCAAGGA TGTGCTCACC 751 ATTACTCTGA CTCCTAAGGT CACGTGTGTT GTGGTAGACA TCAGCAAGGA 801 TGATCCCGAG GTCCAGTTCA GCTGGTTTGT AGATGATGTG GAGGTGCACA 851 CAGCTCAGAC GCAACCCCGG GAGGAGCAGT TCAACAGCAC TTTCCGCTCA 901 GTCAGTGAAC TTCCCATCAT GCACCAGGAC TGGCTCAATG GCAAGGAGTT 951 CAAATGCAGG GTCAACAGTG CAGCTTTCCC TGCCCCCATC GAGAAAACCA 1001 TCTCCAAAAC CAAAGGCAGA CCGAAGGCTC CACAGGTGTA CACCATTCCA 1051 CCTCCCAAGG AGCAGATGGC CAAGGATAAA GTCAGTCTGA CCTGCATGAT 1101 AACAGACTTC TTCCCTGAAG ACATTACTGT GGAGTGGCAG TGGAATGGGC 1151 AGCCAGCGGA GAACTACAAG AACACTCAGC CCATCATGGA CACAGATGGC 1201 TCTTACTTCA TCTACAGCAA GCTCAATGTG CAGAAGAGCA ACTGGGAGGC 1251 AGGAAATACT TTCACCTGCT CTGTGTTACA TGAGGGCCTG CACAACCACC 1301 ATACTGAGAA GAGCCTCTCC CACTCTCCTG GTAAATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-11 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 195) 1 MKCSWVIFFL MAVVTGVNSE VQLQQSGADL VQPGASVKVS CTASGFDIKD 51 YYIHWMKQRP DQGLEWIGRV DPDNGETEFA PKFPGKATFT TDTSSNTAYL 101 QLRGLTSEDT AIYYCGREDY DGTYTWFPYW GQGTLVTVSA AKTTPPSVYP 151 LAPGSAAQTN SMVTLGCLVK GYFPEPVTVT WNSGSLSSGV HTFPAVLQSD 201 LYTLSSSVTV PSSTWPSETV TCNVAHPASS TKVDKKIVPR DCGCKPCICT 251 VPEVSSVFIF PPKPKDVLTI TLTPKVTCVV VDISKDDPEV QFSWFVDDVE 301 VHTAQTQPRE EQFNSTFRSV SELPIMHQDW LNGKEFKCRV NSAAFPAPIE 351 KTISKTKGRP KAPQVYTIPP PKEQMAKDKV SLTCMITDFF PEDITVEWQW 401 NGQPAENYKN TQPIMDTDGS YFIYSKLNVQ KSNWEAGNTF TCSVLHEGLH 451 NHHTEKSLSH SPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-11 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 196) 1 ATGAAATGCA GCTGGGTCAT CTTCTTCCTG ATGGCAGTGG TTACAGGGGT 51 CAATTCAGAA GTTCAGCTGC AACAGTCTGG GGCAGACCTT GTGCAGCCAG 101 GGGCCTCAGT CAAGGTGTCC TGCACAGCTT CTGGCTTCGA CATTAAGGAC 151 TACTATATAC ACTGGATGAA ACAGAGGCCT GACCAGGGCC TGGAGTGGAT 201 TGGAAGGGTT GATCCTGACA ATGGTGAGAC TGAATTTGCC CCGAAGTTCC 251 CGGGCAAGGC CACTTTTACA ACAGACACAT CCTCCAACAC AGCCTACCTA 301 CAACTCAGAG GCCTGACATC TGAGGACACT GCCATCTATT ACTGTGGGAG 351 AGAAGACTAC GATGGTACCT ACACCTGGTT TCCTTATTGG GGCCAAGGGA 401 CTCTGGTCAC TGTCTCTGCA GCCAAAACGA CACCCCCATC TGTCTATCCA 451 CTGGCCCCTG GATCTGCTGC CCAAACTAAC TCCATGGTGA CCCTGGGATG 501 CCTGGTCAAG GGCTATTTCC CTGAGCCAGT GACAGTGACC TGGAACTCTG 551 GATCCCTGTC CAGCGGTGTG CACACCTTCC CAGCTGTCCT GCAGTCTGAC 601 CTCTACACTC TGAGCAGCTC AGTGACTGTC CCCTCCAGCA CCTGGCCCAG 651 CGAGACCGTC ACCTGCAACG TTGCCCACCC GGCCAGCAGC ACCAAGGTGG 701 ACAAGAAAAT TGTGCCCAGG GATTGTGGTT GTAAGCCTTG CATATGTACA 751 GTCCCAGAAG TATCATCTGT CTTCATCTTC CCCCCAAAGC CCAAGGATGT 801 GCTCACCATT ACTCTGACTC CTAAGGTCAC GTGTGTTGTG GTAGACATCA 851 GCAAGGATGA TCCCGAGGTC CAGTTCAGCT GGTTTGTAGA TGATGTGGAG 901 GTGCACACAG CTCAGACGCA ACCCCGGGAG GAGCAGTTCA ACAGCACTTT 951 CCGCTCAGTC AGTGAACTTC CCATCATGCA CCAGGACTGG CTCAATGGCA 1001 AGGAGTTCAA ATGCAGGGTC AACAGTGCAG CTTTCCCTGC CCCCATCGAG 1051 AAAACCATCT CCAAAACCAA AGGCAGACCG AAGGCTCCAC AGGTGTACAC 1101 CATTCCACCT CCCAAGGAGC AGATGGCCAA GGATAAAGTC AGTCTGACCT 1151 GCATGATAAC AGACTTCTTC CCTGAAGACA TTACTGTGGA GTGGCAGTGG 1201 AATGGGCAGC CAGCGGAGAA CTACAAGAAC ACTCAGCCCA TCATGGACAC 1251 AGATGGCTCT TACTTCATCT ACAGCAAGCT CAATGTGCAG AAGAGCAACT 1301 GGGAGGCAGG AAATACTTTC ACCTGCTCTG TGTTACATGA GGGCCTGCAC 1351 AACCACCATA CTGAGAAGAG CCTCTCCCAC TCTCCTGGTA AATGA Ab-12 The sequences of the Antibody 12 (also referred to herein as Ab-12) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-12 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-12 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 197)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-12 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 198) 1 GATCTCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACTTCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT CTCTGGGAGA 51 CAGAGTCACC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA GGACATTAGC AATTATTTAA 101 ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTG TTAAGCTCCT GATCTTCTAC 151 ACATCAACAT TACAGTCAGG AGTCCCATCG AGGTTCAGTG GCAGTGGGTC 201 TGGAACAAAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTACCAA CCTGGAGCAA GATGATGCTG 251 CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGTGATACGC TTCCGTACAC GTTCGGAGGG 301 GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA CTGTATCCAT 351 CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC TCAGTCGTGT 401 GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA GTGGAAGATT 451 GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA CTGATCAGGA 501 CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG TTGACCAAGG 551 ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC TCACAAGACA 601 TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT GTTAG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-12 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 199) 1 MMSSAQFLGL LLLCFQGSRC DLQMTQTTSS LSASLGDRVT ISCRASQDIS 51 NYLNWYQQKP DGTVKLLIFY TSTLQSGVPS RFSGSGSGTN YSLTITNLEQ 101 DDAATYFCQQ GDTLPYTFGG GTKLEIKRAD AAPTVSIFPP SSEQLTSGGA 151 SVVCFLNNFY PKDINVKWKI DGSERQNGVL NSWTDQDSKD STYSMSSTLT 201 LTKDEYERHN SYTCEATHKT STSPIVKSFN RNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-12 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 200) 1 ATGATGTCCT CTGCTCAGTT CCTTGGTCTC CTGTTGCTCT GTTTTCAAGG 51 TTCCAGATGT GATCTCCAGA TGACACAGAC TACTTCCTCC CTGTCTGCCT 101 CTCTGGGAGA CAGAGTCACC ATCAGTTGCA GGGCAAGTCA GGACATTAGC 151 AATTATTTAA ACTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GATGGAACTG TTAAGCTCCT 201 GATCTTCTAC ACATCAACAT TACAGTCAGG AGTCCCATCG AGGTTCAGTG 251 GCAGTGGGTC TGGAACAAAT TATTCTCTCA CCATTACCAA CCTGGAGCAA 301 GATGATGCTG CCACTTACTT TTGCCAACAG GGTGATACGC TTCCGTACAC 351 GTTCGGAGGG GGGACCAAGC TGGAAATAAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAA 401 CTGTATCCAT CTTCCCACCA TCCAGTGAGC AGTTAACATC TGGAGGTGCC 451 TCAGTCGTGT GCTTCTTGAA CAACTTCTAC CCCAAAGACA TCAATGTCAA 501 GTGGAAGATT GATGGCAGTG AACGACAAAA TGGCGTCCTG AACAGTTGGA 551 CTGATCAGGA CAGCAAAGAC AGCACCTACA GCATGAGCAG CACCCTCACG 601 TTGACCAAGG ACGAGTATGA ACGACATAAC AGCTATACCT GTGAGGCCAC 651 TCACAAGACA TCAACTTCAC CCATTGTCAA GAGCTTCAAC AGGAATGAGT 701 GTTAG Ab-12 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-12 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 201)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-12 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 202) 1 GAGGTCCAGT TGCAACAGTC TGGACCTGAA CTAATGAAGC CTGGGGCTTC 51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA CACATTCACT GACTACAACA 101 TGCACTGGAT GAAGCAGAAC CAAGGAAAGA GCCTAGAGTG GATAGGAGAG 151 ATTAATCCTA ACAGTGGTGG TTCTGGTTAC AACCAGAAGT TCAAAGGCAA 201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AGTCCTCCAG CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTCC 251 GCAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC AAGATTGGGC 301 TACTATGGTA ACTACGAGGA CTGGTATTTC GATGTCTGGG GCGCAGGGAC 351 CACGGTCACC GTCTCCTCTG CCAAAACGAC ACCCCCATCT GTCTATCCAC 401 TGGCCCCTGG ATCTGCTGCC CAAACTAACT CCATGGTGAC CCTGGGATGC 451 CTGGTCAAGG GCTATTTCCC TGAGCCAGTG ACAGTGACCT GGAACTCTGG 501 ATCCCTGTCC AGCGGTGTGC ACACCTTCCC AGCTGTCCTG CAGTCTGACC 551 TCTACACTCT GAGCAGCTCA GTGACTGTCC CCTCCAGCAC CTGGCCCAGC 601 GAGACCGTCA CCTGCAACGT TGCCCACCCG GCCAGCAGCA CCAAGGTGGA 651 CAAGAAAATT GTGCCCAGGG ATTGTGGTTG TAAGCCTTGC ATATGTACAG 701 TCCCAGAAGT ATCATCTGTC TTCATCTTCC CCCCAAAGCC CAAGGATGTG 751 CTCACCATTA CTCTGACTCC TAAGGTCACG TGTGTTGTGG TAGACATCAG 801 CAAGGATGAT CCCGAGGTCC AGTTCAGCTG GTTTGTAGAT GATGTGGAGG 851 TGCACACAGC TCAGACGCAA CCCCGGGAGG AGCAGTTCAA CAGCACTTTC 901 CGCTCAGTCA GTGAACTTCC CATCATGCAC CAGGACTGGC TCAATGGCAA 951 GGAGTTCAAA TGCAGGGTCA ACAGTGCAGC TTTCCCTGCC CCCATCGAGA 1001 AAACCATCTC CAAAACCAAA GGCAGACCGA AGGCTCCACA GGTGTACACC 1051 ATTCCACCTC CCAAGGAGCA GATGGCCAAG GATAAAGTCA GTCTGACCTG 1101 CATGATAACA GACTTCTTCC CTGAAGACAT TACTGTGGAG TGGCAGTGGA 1151 ATGGGCAGCC AGCGGAGAAC TACAAGAACA CTCAGCCCAT CATGGACACA 1201 GATGGCTCTT ACTTCATCTA CAGCAAGCTC AATGTGCAGA AGAGCAACTG 1251 GGAGGCAGGA AATACTTTCA CCTGCTCTGT GTTACATGAG GGCCTGCACA 1301 ACCACCATAC TGAGAAGAGC CTCTCCCACT CTCCTGGTAA ATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-12 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 203) 1 MGWSWTFLFL LSGTSGVLSE VQLQQSGPEL MKPGASVKMS CKASGYTFTD 51 YNMHWMKQNQ GKSLEWIGEI NPNSGGSGYN QKFKGKATLT VDKSSSTAYM 101 ELRSLTSEDS AVYYCARLGY YGNYEDWYFD VWGAGTTVTV SSAKTTPPSV 151 YPLAPGSAAQ TNSMVTLGCL VKGYFPEPVT VTWNSGSLSS GVHTFPAVLQ 201 SDLYTLSSSV TVPSSTWPSE TVTCNVAHPA SSTKVDKKIV PRDCGCKPCI 251 CTVPEVSSVF IFPPKPKDVL TITLTPKVTC VVVDISKDDP EVQFSWFVDD 301 VEVHTAQTQP REEQFNSTFR SVSELPIMHQ DWLNGKEFKC RVNSAAFPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG RPKAPQVYTI PPPKEQMAKD KVSLTCMITD FFPEDITVEW 401 QWNGQPAENY KNTQPIMDTD GSYFIYSKLN VQKSNWEAGN TFTCSVLHEG 451 LHNHHTEKSL SHSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-12 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 204) 1 ATGGGATGGA GCTGGACCTT TCTCTTCCTC CTGTCAGGAA CTTCGGGTGT 51 CCTCTCTGAG GTCCAGTTGC AACAGTCTGG ACCTGAACTA ATGAAGCCTG 101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATACAC ATTCACTGAC 151 TACAACATGC ACTGGATGAA GCAGAACCAA GGAAAGAGCC TAGAGTGGAT 201 AGGAGAGATT AATCCTAACA GTGGTGGTTC TGGTTACAAC CAGAAGTTCA 251 AAGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAGT CCTCCAGCAC AGCCTACATG 301 GAGCTCCGCA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG 351 ATTGGGCTAC TATGGTAACT ACGAGGACTG GTATTTCGAT GTCTGGGGCG 401 CAGGGACCAC GGTCACCGTC TCCTCTGCCA AAACGACACC CCCATCTGTC 451 TATCCACTGG CCCCTGGATC TGCTGCCCAA ACTAACTCCA TGGTGACCCT 501 GGGATGCCTG GTCAAGGGCT ATTTCCCTGA GCCAGTGACA GTGACCTGGA 551 ACTCTGGATC CCTGTCCAGC GGTGTGCACA CCTTCCCAGC TGTCCTGCAG 601 TCTGACCTCT ACACTCTGAG CAGCTCAGTG ACTGTCCCCT CCAGCACCTG 651 GCCCAGCGAG ACCGTCACCT GCAACGTTGC CCACCCGGCC AGCAGCACCA 701 AGGTGGACAA GAAAATTGTG CCCAGGGATT GTGGTTGTAA GCCTTGCATA 751 TGTACAGTCC CAGAAGTATC ATCTGTCTTC ATCTTCCCCC CAAAGCCCAA 801 GGATGTGCTC ACCATTACTC TGACTCCTAA GGTCACGTGT GTTGTGGTAG 851 ACATCAGCAA GGATGATCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAGCTGGTT TGTAGATGAT 901 GTGGAGGTGC ACACAGCTCA GACGCAACCC CGGGAGGAGC AGTTCAACAG 951 CACTTTCCGC TCAGTCAGTG AACTTCCCAT CATGCACCAG GACTGGCTCA 1001 ATGGCAAGGA GTTCAAATGC AGGGTCAACA GTGCAGCTTT CCCTGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGC AGACCGAAGG CTCCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCATT CCACCTCCCA AGGAGCAGAT GGCCAAGGAT AAAGTCAGTC 1151 TGACCTGCAT GATAACAGAC TTCTTCCCTG AAGACATTAC TGTGGAGTGG 1201 CAGTGGAATG GGCAGCCAGC GGAGAACTAC AAGAACACTC AGCCCATCAT 1251 GGACACAGAT GGCTCTTACT TCATCTACAG CAAGCTCAAT GTGCAGAAGA 1301 GCAACTGGGA GGCAGGAAAT ACTTTCACCT GCTCTGTGTT ACATGAGGGC 1351 CTGCACAACC ACCATACTGA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCACTCTC CTGGTAAATG 1401 A Ab-13 The sequences of the Antibody 13 (also referred to herein as Ab-13) LC and HC are as follows: Ab-13 Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-13 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 205)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-13 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 206) 1 CAGATTGTTC TCACCCAGTC TCCAGCAATC ATGTCTGCAT CTCCAGGGGA 51 GAAGGTCACC ATGACCTGCA GGGCCAGCTC AAGTGTAACT TCCAGTTACT 101 TGAACTGGTA CCAGCAGAAG CCAGGATCTT CCCCCAAACT CTGGATTTAT 151 AGCACATCCA ACCTGGCTTC AGGAGTCCCA GCTCGCTTCA GTGGCAGTGG 201 GTCTGGGACC TCTTACTCTC TCACAATCAG CAGTGTGGAG GCTGAGGATG 251 CTGCCACTTA TTACTGCCAG CAGTATGATT TTTTCCCATC GACGTTCGGT 301 GGAGGCACCA AGCTGGAAAT CAAGCGGGCT GATGCTGCAC CAACTGTATC 351 CATCTTCCCA CCATCCAGTG AGCAGTTAAC ATCTGGAGGT GCCTCAGTCG 401 TGTGCTTCTT GAACAACTTC TACCCCAAAG ACATCAATGT CAAGTGGAAG 451 ATTGATGGCA GTGAACGACA AAATGGCGTC CTGAACAGTT GGACTGATCA 501 GGACAGCAAA GACAGCACCT ACAGCATGAG CAGCACCCTC ACGTTGACCA 551 AGGACGAGTA TGAACGACAT AACAGCTATA CCTGTGAGGC CACTCACAAG 601 ACATCAACTT CACCCATCGT CAAGAGCTTC AACAGGAATG AGTGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-13 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 207) 1 MDSQVQIFSF LLISALVKMS RGQIVLTQSP AIMSASPGEK VTMTCRASSS 51 VTSSYLNWYQ QKPGSSPKLW IYSTSNLASG VPARFSGSGS GTSYSLTISS 101 VEAEDAATYY CQQYDFFPST FGGGTKLEIK RADAAPTVSI FPPSSEQLTS 151 GGASVVCFLN NFYPKDINVK WKIDGSERQN GVLNSWTDQD SKDSTYSMSS 201 TLTLTKDEYE RHNSYTCEAT HKTSTSPIVK SFNRNEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-13 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 208) 1 ATGGATTCTC AAGTGCAGAT TTTCAGCTTC CTTCTAATCA GTGCCTTAGT 51 CAAAATGTCC AGAGGACAGA TTGTTCTCAC CCAGTCTCCA GCAATCATGT 101 CTGCATCTCC AGGGGAGAAG GTCACCATGA CCTGCAGGGC CAGCTCAAGT 151 GTAACTTCCA GTTACTTGAA CTGGTACCAG CAGAAGCCAG GATCTTCCCC 201 CAAACTCTGG ATTTATAGCA CATCCAACCT GGCTTCAGGA GTCCCAGCTC 251 GCTTCAGTGG CAGTGGGTCT GGGACCTCTT ACTCTCTCAC AATCAGCAGT 301 GTGGAGGCTG AGGATGCTGC CACTTATTAC TGCCAGCAGT ATGATTTTTT 351 CCCATCGACG TTCGGTGGAG GCACCAAGCT GGAAATCAAG CGGGCTGATG 401 CTGCACCAAC TGTATCCATC TTCCCACCAT CCAGTGAGCA GTTAACATCT 451 GGAGGTGCCT CAGTCGTGTG CTTCTTGAAC AACTTCTACC CCAAAGACAT 501 CAATGTCAAG TGGAAGATTG ATGGCAGTGA ACGACAAAAT GGCGTCCTGA 551 ACAGTTGGAC TGATCAGGAC AGCAAAGACA GCACCTACAG CATGAGCAGC 601 ACCCTCACGT TGACCAAGGA CGAGTATGAA CGACATAACA GCTATACCTG 651 TGAGGCCACT CACAAGACAT CAACTTCACC CATCGTCAAG AGCTTCAACA 701 GGAATGAGTG T Ab-13 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-13 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 209)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-13 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 210) 1 GAGGTCCAGC TGCAACAATC TGGACCTGAG CTGGTGAAGC CTGGGGCTTC 51 AGTGAAGATG TCCTGTAAGG CTTCTGGATA CACATTCACT GACTACTACA 101 TGAACTGGGT GAAGCAGAGC CATGGAGAGA GCCTTGAGTG GATTGGAGAT 151 ATTAATCCTT ACAACGATGA TACTACCTAC AACCACAAGT TCAAGGGCAA 201 GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA AATCCTCCAA CACAGCCTAC ATGCAGCTCA 251 ACAGCCTGAC ATCTGAGGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTACTGTGC AAGAGAGACG 301 GCCGTTATTA CTACGAATGC TATGGACTAC TGGGGTCAAG GAACCTCAGT 351 CACCGTCTCC TCAGCCAAAA CGACACCCCC ATCTGTCTAT CCACTGGCCC 401 CTGGATCTGC TGCCCAAACT AACTCCATGG TGACCCTGGG ATGCCTGGTC 451 AAGGGCTATT TCCCTGAGCC AGTGACAGTG ACCTGGAACT CTGGATCCCT 501 GTCCAGCGGT GTGCACACCT TCCCAGCTGT CCTGCAGTCT GACCTCTACA 551 CTCTGAGCAG CTCAGTGACT GTCCCCTCCA GCACCTGGCC CAGCGAGACC 601 GTCACCTGCA ACGTTGCCCA CCCGGCCAGC AGCACCAAGG TGGACAAGAA 651 AATTGTGCCC AGGGATTGTG GTTGTAAGCC TTGCATATGT ACAGTCCCAG 701 AAGTATCATC TGTCTTCATC TTCCCCCCAA AGCCCAAGGA TGTGCTCACC 751 ATTACTCTGA CTCCTAAGGT CACGTGTGTT GTGGTAGACA TCAGCAAGGA 801 TGATCCCGAG GTCCAGTTCA GCTGGTTTGT AGATGATGTG GAGGTGCACA 851 CAGCTCAGAC GCAACCCCGG GAGGAGCAGT TCAACAGCAC TTTCCGCTCA 901 GTCAGTGAAC TTCCCATCAT GCACCAGGAC TGGCTCAATG GCAAGGAGTT 951 CAAATGCAGG GTCAACAGTG CAGCTTTCCC TGCCCCCATC GAGAAAACCA 1001 TCTCCAAAAC CAAAGGCAGA CCGAAGGCTC CACAGGTGTA CACCATTCCA 1051 CCTCCCAAGG AGCAGATGGC CAAGGATAAA GTCAGTCTGA CCTGCATGAT 1101 AACAGACTTC TTCCCTGAAG ACATTACTGT GGAGTGGCAG TGGAATGGGC 1151 AGCCAGCGGA GAACTACAAG AACACTCAGC CCATCATGGA CACAGATGGC 1201 TCTTACTTCA TCTACAGCAA GCTCAATGTG CAGAAGAGCA ACTGGGAGGC 1251 AGGAAATACT TTCACCTGCT CTGTGTTACA TGAGGGCCTG CACAACCACC 1301 ATACTGAGAA GAGCCTCTCC CACTCTCCTG GTAAA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-13 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 211) 1 MGWNWIFLFL LSGTAGVYSE VQLQQSGPEL VKPGASVKMS CKASGYTFTD 51 YYMNWVKQSH GESLEWIGDI NPYNDDTTYN HKFKGKATLT VDKSSNTAYM 101 QLNSLTSEDS AVYYCARETA VITTNAMDYW GQGTSVTVSS AKTTPPSVYP 151 LAPGSAAQTN SMVTLGCLVK GYFPEPVTVT WNSGSLSSGV HTFPAVLQSD 201 LYTLSSSVTV PSSTWPSETV TCNVAHPASS TKVDKKIVPR DCGCKPCICT 251 VPEVSSVFIF PPKPKDVLTI TLTPKVTCVV VDISKDDPEV QFSWFVDDVE 301 VHTAQTQPRE EQFNSTFRSV SELPIMHQDW LNGKEFKCRV NSAAFPAPIE 351 KTISKTKGRP KAPQVYTIPP PKEQMAKDKV SLTCMITDFF PEDITVEWQW 401 NGQPAENYKN TQPIMDTDGS YFIYSKLNVQ KSNWEAGNTF TCSVLHEGLH 451 NHHTEKSLSH SPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-13 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 212) 1 ATGGGATGGA ACTGGATCTT TCTCTTCCTC TTGTCAGGAA CTGCAGGTGT 51 CTACTCTGAG GTCCAGCTGC AACAATCTGG ACCTGAGCTG GTGAAGCCTG 101 GGGCTTCAGT GAAGATGTCC TGTAAGGCTT CTGGATACAC ATTCACTGAC 151 TACTACATGA ACTGGGTGAA GCAGAGCCAT GGAGAGAGCC TTGAGTGGAT 201 TGGAGATATT AATCCTTACA ACGATGATAC TACCTACAAC CACAAGTTCA 251 AGGGCAAGGC CACATTGACT GTAGACAAAT CCTCCAACAC AGCCTACATG 301 CAGCTCAACA GCCTGACATC TGAGGACTCT GCAGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG 351 AGAGACGGCC GTTATTACTA CGAATGCTAT GGACTACTGG GGTCAAGGAA 401 CCTCAGTCAC CGTCTCCTCA GCCAAAACGA CACCCCCATC TGTCTATCCA 451 CTGGCCCCTG GATCTGCTGC CCAAACTAAC TCCATGGTGA CCCTGGGATG 501 CCTGGTCAAG GGCTATTTCC CTGAGCCAGT GACAGTGACC TGGAACTCTG 551 GATCCCTGTC CAGCGGTGTG CACACCTTCC CAGCTGTCCT GCAGTCTGAC 601 CTCTACACTC TGAGCAGCTC AGTGACTGTC CCCTCCAGCA CCTGGCCCAG 651 CGAGACCGTC ACCTGCAACG TTGCCCACCC GGCCAGCAGC ACCAAGGTGG 701 ACAAGAAAAT TGTGCCCAGG GATTGTGGTT GTAAGCCTTG CATATGTACA 751 GTCCCAGAAG TATCATCTGT CTTCATCTTC CCCCCAAAGC CCAAGGATGT 801 GCTCACCATT ACTCTGACTC CTAAGGTCAC GTGTGTTGTG GTAGACATCA 851 GCAAGGATGA TCCCGAGGTC CAGTTCAGCT GGTTTGTAGA TGATGTGGAG 901 GTGCACACAG CTCAGACGCA ACCCCGGGAG GAGCAGTTCA ACAGCACTTT 951 CCGCTCAGTC AGTGAACTTC CCATCATGCA CCAGGACTGG CTCAATGGCA 1001 AGGAGTTCAA ATGCAGGGTC AACAGTGCAG CTTTCCCTGC CCCCATCGAG 1051 AAAACCATCT CCAAAACCAA AGGCAGACCG AAGGCTCCAC AGGTGTACAC 1101 CATTCCACCT CCCAAGGAGC AGATGGCCAA GGATAAAGTC AGTCTGACCT 1151 GCATGATAAC AGACTTCTTC CCTGAAGACA TTACTGTGGA GTGGCAGTGG 1201 AATGGGCAGC CAGCGGAGAA CTACAAGAAC ACTCAGCCCA TCATGGACAC 1251 AGATGGCTCT TACTTCATCT ACAGCAAGCT CAATGTGCAG AAGAGCAACT 1301 GGGAGGCAGG AAATACTTTC ACCTGCTCTG TGTTACATGA GGGCCTGCAC 1351 AACCACCATA CTGAGAAGAG CCTCTCCCAC TCTCCTGGTA AA

Ab-13 was humanized to generate Ab-14.

The sequences of the Antibody 14 (also referred to herein as Ab-14) LC and HC are as follows:

Ab-14 Light Chain:

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-14 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 213)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-14 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 214) 1 GACATCCAGC TGACCCAGAG CCCCAGCTTC CTTTCCGCAT CCGTTGGTGA 51 CCGAGTAACA ATCACATGCC GCGCCTCATC TTCAGTTACA TCTTCTTATC 101 TTAATTGGTA TCAACAAAAA CCAGGAAAAG CACCTAAACT TCTTATATAC 151 TCTACATCTA ATCTCGCATC AGGAGTTCCC TCTCGATTTT CAGGATCTGG 201 ATCAGGCACA GAATTTACAC TTACTATATC ATCACTCCAA CCAGAAGACT 251 TCGCCACTTA TTACTGCCAA CAATACGATT TTTTTCCAAG CACATTCGGA 301 GGAGGTACAA AAGTAGAAAT CAAGCGTACG GTGGCTGCAC CATCTGTCTT 351 CATCTTCCCG CCATCTGATG AGCAGTTGAA ATCTGGAACT GCCTCTGTTG 401 TGTGCCTGCT GAATAACTTC TATCCCAGAG AGGCCAAAGT ACAGTGGAAG 451 GTGGATAACG CCCTCCAATC GGGTAACTCC CAGGAGAGTG TCACAGAGCA 501 GGACAGCAAG GACAGCACCT ACAGCCTCAG CAGCACCCTG ACGCTGAGCA 551 AAGCAGACTA CGAGAAACAC AAAGTCTACG CCTGCGAAGT CACCCATCAG 601 GGCCTGAGCT CGCCCGTCAC AAAGAGCTTC AACAGGGGAG AGTGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-14 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 215) 1 MDMRVPAQLL GLLLLWLPGA RCDIQLTQSP SFLSASVGDR VTITCRASSS 51 VTSSYLNWYQ QKPGKAPKLL IYSTSNLASG VPSRFSGSGS GTEFTLTISS 101 LQPEDFATYY CQQYDFFPST FGGGTKVEIK RTVAAPSVFI FPPSDEQLKS 151 GTASVVCLLN NFYPREAKVQ WKVDNALQSG NSQESVTEQD SKDSTYSLSS 201 TLTLSKADYE KHKVYACEVT HQGLSSPVTK SFNRGEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-14 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 216) 1 ATGGACATGA GGGTCCCCGC TCAGCTCCTG GGGCTCCTGC TACTCTGGCT 51 CCCAGGTGCC AGATGTGACA TCCAGCTGAC CCAGAGCCCC AGCTTCCTTT 101 CCGCATCCGT TGGTGACCGA GTAACAATCA CATGCCGCGC CTCATCTTCA 151 GTTACATCTT CTTATCTTAA TTGGTATCAA CAAAAACCAG GAAAAGCACC 201 TAAACTTCTT ATATACTCTA CATCTAATCT CGCATCAGGA GTTCCCTCTC 251 GATTTTCAGG ATCTGGATCA GGCACAGAAT TTACACTTAC TATATCATCA 301 CTCCAACCAG AAGACTTCGC CACTTATTAC TGCCAACAAT ACGATTTTTT 351 TCCAAGCACA TTCGGAGGAG GTACAAAAGT AGAAATCAAG CGTACGGTGG 401 CTGCACCATC TGTCTTCATC TTCCCGCCAT CTGATGAGCA GTTGAAATCT 451 GGAACTGCCT CTGTTGTGTG CCTGCTGAAT AACTTCTATC CCAGAGAGGC 501 CAAAGTACAG TGGAAGGTGG ATAACGCCCT CCAATCGGGT AACTCCCAGG 551 AGAGTGTCAC AGAGCAGGAC AGCAAGGACA GCACCTACAG CCTCAGCAGC 601 ACCCTGACGC TGAGCAAAGC AGACTACGAG AAACACAAAG TCTACGCCTG 651 CGAAGTCACC CATCAGGGCC TGAGCTCGCC CGTCACAAAG AGCTTCAACA 701 GGGGAGAGTG T Ab-14 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-14 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 217)  

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-14 HC without carboxy-terminal lysine:

(SEQ ID NO: 393)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-14 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 218) 1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGAG CGGCGCCGAG GTCAAGAAAC CTGGAGCAAG 51 CGTAAAGGTT AGTTGCAAAG CATCTGGATA CACATTTACC GACTACTACA 101 TGAATTGGGT ACGACAAGCC CCTGGACAAA GACTTGAATG GATGGGAGAC 151 ATTAACCCTT ATAACGACGA CACTACATAC AATCATAAAT TTAAAGGAAG 201 AGTTACAATT ACAAGAGATA CATCCGCATC AACCGCCTAT ATGGAACTTT 251 CCTCATTGAG ATCTGAAGAC ACTGCTGTTT ATTACTGTGC AAGAGAAACT 301 GCCGTTATTA CTACTAACGC TATGGATTAC TGGGGTCAAG GAACCACTGT 351 TACCGTCTCT AGTGCCTCCA CCAAGGGCCC ATCGGTCTTC CCCCTGGCGC 401 CCTGCTCCAG GAGCACCTCC GAGAGCACAG CGGCCCTGGG CTGCCTGGTC 451 AAGGACTACT TCCCCGAACC GGTGACGGTG TCGTGGAACT CAGGCGCTCT 501 GACCAGCGGC GTGCACACCT TCCCAGCTGT CCTACAGTCC TCAGGACTCT 551 ACTCCCTCAG CAGCGTGGTG ACCGTGCCCT CCAGCAACTT CGGCACCCAG 601 ACCTACACCT GCAACGTAGA TCACAAGCCC AGCAACACCA AGGTGGACAA 651 GACAGTTGAG CGCAAATGTT GTGTCGAGTG CCCACCGTGC CCAGCACCAC 701 CTGTGGCAGG ACCGTCAGTC TTCCTCTTCC CCCCAAAACC CAAGGACACC 751 CTCATGATCT CCCGGACCCC TGAGGTCACG TGCGTGGTGG TGGACGTGAG 801 CCACGAAGAC CCCGAGGTCC AGTTCAACTG GTACGTGGAC GGCGTGGAGG 851 TGCATAATGC CAAGACAAAG CCACGGGAGG AGCAGTTCAA CAGCACGTTC 901 CGTGTGGTCA GCGTCCTCAC CGTTGTGCAC CAGGACTGGC TGAACGGCAA 951 GGAGTACAAG TGCAAGGTCT CCAACAAAGG CCTCCCAGCC CCCATCGAGA 1001 AAACCATCTC CAAAACCAAA GGGCAGCCCC GAGAACCACA GGTGTACACC 1051 CTGCCCCCAT CCCGGGAGGA GATGACCAAG AACCAGGTCA GCCTGACCTG 1101 CCTGGTCAAA GGCTTCTACC CCAGCGACAT CGCCGTGGAG TGGGAGAGCA 1151 ATGGGCAGCC GGAGAACAAC TACAAGACCA CACCTCCCAT GCTGGACTCC 1201 GACGGCTCCT TCTTCCTCTA CAGCAAGCTC ACCGTGGACA AGAGCAGGTG 1251 GCAGCAGGGG AACGTCTTCT CATGCTCCGT GATGCATGAG GCTCTGCACA 1301 ACCACTACAC GCAGAAGAGC CTCTCCCTGT CTCCGGGTAA A Amino acid sequence of the Ab-14 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 219) 1 MDWTWRILFL VAAATGAHSE VQLVQSGAEV KKPGASVKVS CKASGYTFTD 51 YYMNWVRQAP GQRLEWMGDI NPYNDDTTYN HKFKGRVTIT RDTSASTAYM 101 ELSSLRSEDT AVYYCARETA VITTNAMDYW GQGTTVTVSS ASTKGPSVFP 151 LAPCSRSTSE STAALGCLVK DYFPEPVTVS WNSGALTSGV HTFPAVLQSS 201 GLYSLSSVVT VPSSNFGTQT YTCNVDHKPS NTKVDKTVER KCCVECPPCP 251 APPVAGPSVF LFPPKPKDTL MISRTPEVTC VVVDVSHEDP EVQFNWYVDG 301 VEVHNAKTKP REEQFNSTFR VVSVLTVVHQ DWLNGKEYKC KVSNKGLPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG QPREPQVYTL PPSREEMTKN QVSLTCLVKG FYPSDIAVEW 401 ESNGQPENNY KTTPPMLDSD GSFFLYSKLT VDKSRWQQGN VFSCSVMHEA 451 LHNHYTQKSL SLSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-14 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 220) 1 ATGGACTGGA CCTGGAGGAT CCTCTTCTTG GTGGCAGCAG CCACAGGAGC 51 CCACTCCGAG GTGCAGCTGG TGCAGAGCGG CGCCGAGGTC AAGAAACCTG 101 GAGCAAGCGT AAAGGTTAGT TGCAAAGCAT CTGGATACAC ATTTACCGAC 151 TACTACATGA ATTGGGTACG ACAAGCCCCT GGACAAAGAC TTGAATGGAT 201 GGGAGACATT AACCCTTATA ACGACGACAC TACATACAAT CATAAATTTA 251 AAGGAAGAGT TACAATTACA AGAGATACAT CCGCATCAAC CGCCTATATG 301 GAACTTTCCT CATTGAGATC TGAAGACACT GCTGTTTATT ACTGTGCAAG 351 AGAAACTGCC GTTATTACTA CTAACGCTAT GGATTACTGG GGTCAAGGAA 401 CCACTGTTAC CGTCTCTAGT GCCTCCACCA AGGGCCCATC GGTCTTCCCC 451 CTGGCGCCCT GCTCCAGGAG CACCTCCGAG AGCACAGCGG CCCTGGGCTG 501 CCTGGTCAAG GACTACTTCC CCGAACCGGT GACGGTGTCG TGGAACTCAG 551 GCGCTCTGAC CAGCGGCGTG CACACCTTCC CAGCTGTCCT ACAGTCCTCA 601 GGACTCTACT CCCTCAGCAG CGTGGTGACC GTGCCCTCCA GCAACTTCGG 651 CACCCAGACC TACACCTGCA ACGTAGATCA CAAGCCCAGC AACACCAAGG 701 TGGACAAGAC AGTTGAGCGC AAATGTTGTG TCGAGTGCCC ACCGTGCCCA 751 GCACCACCTG TGGCAGGACC GTCAGTCTTC CTCTTCCCCC CAAAACCCAA 801 GGACACCCTC ATGATCTCCC GGACCCCTGA GGTCACGTGC GTGGTGGTGG 851 ACGTGAGCCA CGAAGACCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAACTGGTA CGTGGACGGC 901 GTGGAGGTGC ATAATGCCAA GACAAAGCCA CGGGAGGAGC AGTTCAACAG 951 CACGTTCCGT GTGGTCAGCG TCCTCACCGT TGTGCACCAG GACTGGCTGA 1001 ACGGCAAGGA GTACAAGTGC AAGGTCTCCA ACAAAGGCCT CCCAGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGG CAGCCCCGAG AACCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCCTG CCCCCATCCC GGGAGGAGAT GACCAAGAAC CAGGTCAGCC 1151 TGACCTGCCT GGTCAAAGGC TTCTACCCCA GCGACATCGC CGTGGAGTGG 1201 GAGAGCAATG GGCAGCCGGA GAACAACTAC AAGACCACAC CTCCCATGCT 1251 GGACTCCGAC GGCTCCTTCT TCCTCTACAG CAAGCTCACC GTGGACAAGA 1301 GCAGGTGGCA GCAGGGGAAC GTCTTCTCAT GCTCCGTGAT GCATGAGGCT 1351 CTGCACAACC ACTACACGCA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCTGTCTC CGGGTAAA

The CDR sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-14 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 296) CDR-H1: DYYMN  (SEQ ID NO: 297) CDR-H2: DINPYNDDTTYNHKFKG (SEQ ID NO: 298) CDR-H3: ETAVITTNAMD

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-14 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 284) CDR-L1: RASSSVTSSYLN (SEQ ID NO: 285) CDR-L2: STSNLAS (SEQ ID NO: 286) CDR-L3: QQYDFFPST Ab-14 Variable domains: Ab-14 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 380)

Ab-14 light chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 381) 1 GACATCCAGC TGACCCAGAG CCCCAGCTTC CTTTCCGCAT CCGTTGGTGA 51 CCGAGTAACA ATCACATGCC GCGCCTCATC TTCAGTTACA TCTTCTTATC 101 TTAATTGGTA TCAACAAAAA CCAGGAAAAG CACCTAAACT TCTTATATAC 151 TCTACATCTA ATCTCGCATC AGGAGTTCCC TCTCGATTTT CAGGATCTGG 201 ATCAGGCACA GAATTTACAC TTACTATATC ATCACTCCAA CCAGAAGACT 251 TCGCCACTTA TTACTGCCAA CAATACGATT TTTTTCCAAG CACATTCGGA 301 GGAGGTACAA AAGTAGAAAT CAAG Ab-14 heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 382)

Ab-14 heavy chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 383) 1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGAG CGGCGCCGAG GTCAAGAAAC CTGGAGCAAG 51 CGTAAAGGTT AGTTGCAAAG CATCTGGATA CACATTTACC GACTACTACA 101 TGAATTGGGT ACGACAAGCC CCTGGACAAA GACTTGAATG GATGGGAGAC 151 ATTAACCCTT ATAACGACGA CACTACATAC AATCATAAAT TTAAAGGAAG 201 AGTTACAATT ACAAGAGATA CATCCGCATC AACCGCCTAT ATGGAACTTT 251 CCTCATTGAG ATCTGAAGAC ACTGCTGTTT ATTACTGTGC AAGAGAAACT 301 GCCGTTATTA CTACTAACGC TATGGATTAC TGGGGTCAAG GAACCACTGT 351 TACCGTCTCT AGT

Ab-3 was humanized to generate Ab-15.

Ab-15

The sequences of the Antibody 15 (also referred to herein as Ab-15) LC and HC are as follows:

Ab-15 Light Chain:

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-15 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 221)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-15 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 222) 1 GACATCCAGA TGACCCAGTC TCCATCCTCC CTCTCAGCAT CCGTAGGCGA 51 TAGAGTTACA ATAACATGCA GCGTATCATC AACTATATCA TCAAATCATC 101 TTCATTGGTT CCAACAGAAA CCCGGCAAAG CACCTAAATC ACTTATATAC 151 GGCACATCAA ATCTCGCATC AGGCGTTCCT TCAAGATTTT CAGGCTCTGG 201 CTCAGGCACC GACTTTACTC TTACAATATC CTCCCTCCAA CCCGAAGACT 251 TCGCAACCTA TTACTGTCAA CAATGGTCCT CATATCCACT CACATTTGGC 301 GGCGGCACAA AAGTAGAAAT TAAACGTACG GTGGCTGCAC CATCTGTCTT 351 CATCTTCCCG CCATCTGATG AGCAGTTGAA ATCTGGAACT GCCTCTGTTG 401 TGTGCCTGCT GAATAACTTC TATCCCAGAG AGGCCAAAGT ACAGTGGAAG 451 GTGGATAACG CCCTCCAATC GGGTAACTCC CAGGAGAGTG TCACAGAGCA 501 GGACAGCAAG GACAGCACCT ACAGCCTCAG CAGCACCCTG ACGCTGAGCA 551 AAGCAGACTA CGAGAAACAC AAAGTCTACG CCTGCGAAGT CACCCATCAG 601 GGCCTGAGCT CGCCCGTCAC AAAGAGCTTC AACAGGGGAG AGTGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-15 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 223) 1 MDMRVPAQLL GLLLLWLRGA RCDIQMTQSP SSLSASVGDR VTITCSVSST 51 ISSNHLHWFQ QKPGKAPKSL IYGTSNLASG VPSRFSGSGS GTDFTLTISS 101 LQPEDFATYY CQQWSSYPLT FGGGTKVEIK RTVAAPSVFI FPPSDEQLKS 151 GTASVVCLLN NFYPREAKVQ WKVDNALQSG NSQESVTEQD SKDSTYSLSS 201 TLTLSKADYE KHKVYACEVT HQGLSSPVTK SFNRGEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-15 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 224) 1 ATGGACATGA GGGTCCCCGC TCAGCTCCTG GGGCTCCTGC TACTCTGGCT 51 CCGAGGTGCC AGATGTGACA TCCAGATGAC CCAGTCTCCA TCCTCCCTCT 101 CAGCATCCGT AGGCGATAGA GTTACAATAA CATGCAGCGT ATCATCAACT 151 ATATCATCAA ATCATCTTCA TTGGTTCCAA CAGAAACCCG GCAAAGCACC 201 TAAATCACTT ATATACGGCA CATCAAATCT CGCATCAGGC GTTCCTTCAA 251 GATTTTCAGG CTCTGGCTCA GGCACCGACT TTACTCTTAC AATATCCTCC 301 CTCCAACCCG AAGACTTCGC AACCTATTAC TGTCAACAAT GGTCCTCATA 351 TCCACTCACA TTTGGCGGCG GCACAAAAGT AGAAATTAAA CGTACGGTGG 401 CTGCACCATC TGTCTTCATC TTCCCGCCAT CTGATGAGCA GTTGAAATCT 451 GGAACTGCCT CTGTTGTGTG CCTGCTGAAT AACTTCTATC CCAGAGAGGC 501 CAAAGTACAG TGGAAGGTGG ATAACGCCCT CCAATCGGGT AACTCCCAGG 551 AGAGTGTCAC AGAGCAGGAC AGCAAGGACA GCACCTACAG CCTCAGCAGC 601 ACCCTGACGC TGAGCAAAGC AGACTACGAG AAACACAAAG TCTACGCCTG 651 CGAAGTCACC CATCAGGGCC TGAGCTCGCC CGTCACAAAG AGCTTCAACA 701 GGGGAGAGTG T Ab-15 Heavy Chain Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-15 HC.

(SEQ ID NO: 225)

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of Ab-15 HC without carboxy-terminal lysine:

(SEQ ID NO: 394)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-15 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 226) 1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGTC TGGGGCTGAG GTGAAGAAGC CTGGGGCCTC 51 AGTGAAGGTC TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGACTT CAACATTAAA GACTTCTATC 101 TACACTGGGT GCGACAGGCC CCTGGACAAG GGCTTGAGTG GATTGGAAGG 151 ATTGATCCTG AGAATGGTGA TACTTTATAT GACCCGAAGT TCCAGGACAA 201 GGTCACCATG ACCACAGACA CGTCCACCAG CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTGA 251 GGAGCCTGAG ATCTGACGAC ACGGCCGTGT ATTACTGTGC GAGAGAGGCG 301 GATTATTTCC ACGATGGTAC CTCCTACTGG TACTTCGATG TCTGGGGCCG 351 TGGCACCCTG GTCACCGTCT CTAGTGCCTC CACCAAGGGC CCATCGGTCT 401 TCCCCCTGGC GCCCTGCTCC AGGAGCACCT CCGAGAGCAC AGCGGCCCTG 451 GGCTGCCTGG TCAAGGACTA CTTCCCCGAA CCGGTGACGG TGTCGTGGAA 501 CTCAGGCGCT CTGACCAGCG GCGTGCACAC CTTCCCAGCT GTCCTACAGT 551 CCTCAGGACT CTACTCCCTC AGCAGCGTGG TGACCGTGCC CTCCAGCAAC 601 TTCGGCACCC AGACCTACAC CTGCAACGTA GATCACAAGC CCAGCAACAC 651 CAAGGTGGAC AAGACAGTTG AGCGCAAATG TTGTGTCGAG TGCCCACCGT 701 GCCCAGCACC ACCTGTGGCA GGACCGTCAG TCTTCCTCTT CCCCCCAAAA 751 CCCAAGGACA CCCTCATGAT CTCCCGGACC CCTGAGGTCA CGTGCGTGGT 801 GGTGGACGTG AGCCACGAAG ACCCCGAGGT CCAGTTCAAC TGGTACGTGG 851 ACGGCGTGGA GGTGCATAAT GCCAAGACAA AGCCACGGGA GGAGCAGTTC 901 AACAGCACGT TCCGTGTGGT CAGCGTCCTC ACCGTTGTGC ACCAGGACTG 951 GCTGAACGGC AAGGAGTACA AGTGCAAGGT CTCCAACAAA GGCCTCCCAG 1001 CCCCCATCGA GAAAACCATC TCCAAAACCA AAGGGCAGCC CCGAGAACCA 1051 CAGGTGTACA CCCTGCCCCC ATCCCGGGAG GAGATGACCA AGAACCAGGT 1101 CAGCCTGACC TGCCTGGTCA AAGGCTTCTA CCCCAGCGAC ATCGCCGTGG 1151 AGTGGGAGAG CAATGGGCAG CCGGAGAACA ACTACAAGAC CACACCTCCC 1201 ATGCTGGACT CCGACGGCTC CTTCTTCCTC TACAGCAAGC TCACCGTGGA 1251 CAAGAGCAGG TGGCAGCAGG GGAACGTCTT CTCATGCTCC GTGATGCATG 1301 AGGCTCTGCA CAACCACTAC ACGCAGAAGA GCCTCTCCCT GTCTCCGGGT 1351 AAA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-15 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 227)   1 MDWTWRILFL VAAATGAHSE VQLVQSGAEV KKPGASVKVS CKASDFNIKD  51 FYLHWVRQAP GQGLEWIGRI DPENGDTLYD PKFQDKVTMT TDTSTSTAYM 101 ELRSLRSDDT AVYYCAREAD YFHDGTSYWY FDVWGRGTLV TVSSASTKGP 151 SVFPLAPCSR STSESTAALG CLVKDYFPEP VTVSWNSGAL TSGVHTFPAV 201 LQSSGLYSLS SVVTVPSSNF GTQTYTCNVD HKPSNTKVDK TVERKCCVEC 251 PPCPAPPVAG PSVFLFPPKP KDTLMISRTP EVTCVVVDVS HEDPEVQFNW 301 YVDGVEVHNA KTKPREEQFN STFRVVSVLT VVHQDWLNGK EYKCKVSNKG 351 LPAPIEKTIS KTKGQPREPQ VYTLPPSREE MTKNQVSLTC LVKGFYPSDI 401 AVEWESNGQP ENNYKTTPPM LDSDGSFFLY SKLTVDKSRW QQGNVFSCSV 451 MHEALHNHYT QKSLSLSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-15 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 228)    1 ATGGACTGGA CCTGGAGGAT CCTCTTCTTG GTGGCAGCAG CCACAGGAGC   51 CCACTCCGAG GTGCAGCTGG TGCAGTCTGG GGCTGAGGTG AAGAAGCCTG  101 GGGCCTCAGT GAAGGTCTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGACTTCAA CATTAAAGAC  151 TTCTATCTAC ACTGGGTGCG ACAGGCCCCT GGACAAGGGC TTGAGTGGAT  201 TGGAAGGATT GATCCTGAGA ATGGTGATAC TTTATATGAC CCGAAGTTCC  251 AGGACAAGGT CACCATGACC ACAGACACGT CCACCAGCAC AGCCTACATG  301 GAGCTGAGGA GCCTGAGATC TGACGACACG GCCGTGTATT ACTGTGCGAG  351 AGAGGCGGAT TATTTCCACG ATGGTACCTC CTACTGGTAC TTCGATGTCT  401 GGGGCCGTGG CACCCTGGTC ACCGTCTCTA GTGCCTCCAC CAAGGGCCCA  451 TCGGTCTTCC CCCTGGCGCC CTGCTCCAGG AGCACCTCCG AGAGCACAGC  501 GGCCCTGGGC TGCCTGGTCA AGGACTACTT CCCCGAACCG GTGACGGTGT  551 CGTGGAACTC AGGCGCTCTG ACCAGCGGCG TGCACACCTT CCCAGCTGTC  601 CTACAGTCCT CAGGACTCTA CTCCCTCAGC AGCGTGGTGA CCGTGCCCTC  651 CAGCAACTTC GGCACCCAGA CCTACACCTG CAACGTAGAT CACAAGCCCA  701 GCAACACCAA GGTGGACAAG ACAGTTGAGC GCAAATGTTG TGTCGAGTGC  751 CCACCGTGCC CAGCACCACC TGTGGCAGGA CCGTCAGTCT TCCTCTTCCC  801 CCCAAAACCC AAGGACACCC TCATGATCTC CCGGACCCCT GAGGTCACGT  851 GCGTGGTGGT GGACGTGAGC CACGAAGACC CCGAGGTCCA GTTCAACTGG  901 TACGTGGACG GCGTGGAGGT GCATAATGCC AAGACAAAGC CACGGGAGGA  951 GCAGTTCAAC AGCACGTTCC GTGTGGTCAG CGTCCTCACC GTTGTGCACC 1001 AGGACTGGCT GAACGGCAAG GAGTACAAGT GCAAGGTCTC CAACAAAGGC 1051 CTCCCAGCCC CCATCGAGAA AACCATCTCC AAAACCAAAG GGCAGCCCCG 1101 AGAACCACAG GTGTACACCC TGCCCCCATC CCGGGAGGAG ATGACCAAGA 1151 ACCAGGTCAG CCTGACCTGC CTGGTCAAAG GCTTCTACCC CAGCGACATC 1201 GCCGTGGAGT GGGAGAGCAA TGGGCAGCCG GAGAACAACT ACAAGACCAC 1251 ACCTCCCATG CTGGACTCCG ACGGCTCCTT CTTCCTCTAC AGCAAGCTCA 1301 CCGTGGACAA GAGCAGGTGG CAGCAGGGGA ACGTCTTCTC ATGCTCCGTG 1351 ATGCATGAGG CTCTGCACAA CCACTACACG CAGAAGAGCC TCTCCCTGTC 1401 TCCGGGTAAA

The CDR sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-15 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 290) CDR-H1: DFYLH (SEQ ID NO: 291) CDR-H2: RIDPENGDTLYDPKFQD (SEQ ID NO: 292) CDR-H3: EADYFHDGTSYWYFDV

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-15 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 278) CDR-L1: SVSSTISSNHLH (SEQ ID NO: 279) CDR-L2: GTSNLAS (SEQ ID NO: 280) CDR-L3: QQWSSYPLT Ab-15 Variable domains: Ab-15 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 384)

Ab-15 light chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 385)   1 GACATCCAGA TGACCCAGTC TCCATCCTCC CTCTCAGCAT CCGTAGGCGA  51 TAGAGTTACA ATAACATGCA GCGTATCATC AACTATATCA TCAAATCATC 101 TTCATTGGTT CCAACAGAAA CCCGGCAAAG CACCTAAATC ACTTATATAC 151 GGCACATCAA ATCTCGCATC AGGCGTTCCT TCAAGATTTT CAGGCTCTGG 201 CTCAGGCACC GACTTTACTC TTACAATATC CTCCCTCCAA CCCGAAGACT 251 TCGCAACCTA TTACTGTCAA CAATGGTCCT CATATCCACT CACATTTGGC 301 GGCGGCACAA AAGTAGAAAT TAAA Ab-15 heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 386)

Ab-15 heavy chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 387)   1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGTC TGGGGCTGAG GTGAAGAAGC CTGGGGCCTC  51 AGTGAAGGTC TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGACTT CAACATTAAA GACTTCTATC 101 TACACTGGGT GCGACAGGCC CCTGGACAAG GGCTTGAGTG GATTGGAAGG 151 ATTGATCCTG AGAATGGTGA TACTTTATAT GACCCGAAGT TCCAGGACAA 201 GGTCACCATG ACCACAGACA CGTCCACCAG CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTGA 251 GGAGCCTGAG ATCTGACGAC ACGGCCGTGT ATTACTGTGC GAGAGAGGCG 301 GATTATTTCC ACGATGGTAC CTCCTACTGG TACTTCGATG TCTGGGGCCG 351 TGGCACCCTG GTCACCGTCT CTAGT

Ab-11 was humanized to generate Ab-16.

Ab-16

The sequences of the Antibody 16 (also referred to herein as Ab-16) LC and HC are as follows:

Ab-16 Light Chain:

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-16 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 229)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-16 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 230)   1 GACATCCAGT TGACCCAGTC TCCATCCTTC CTGTCTGCAT CTGTAGGAGA  51 CAGAGTCACC ATCACTTGCA GGGCCAGCTC AAGTATAAGT TACATACACT 101 GGTATCAGCA AAAACCAGGG AAAGCCCCTA AGCTCCTGAT CTATGCCACA 151 TCCAACCTGG CTTCTGGGGT CCCATCAAGG TTCAGCGGCA GTGGATCTGG 201 GACAGAATTC ACTCTCACAA TCAGCAGCCT GCAGCCTGAA GATTTTGCAA 251 CTTATTACTG TCAGCAGTGG AGTAGTGACC CACTCACGTT CGGCGGAGGG 301 ACCAAGGTGG AGATCAAACG TACGGTGGCT GCACCATCTG TCTTCATCTT 351 CCCGCCATCT GATGAGCAGT TGAAATCTGG AACTGCCTCT GTTGTGTGCC 401 TGCTGAATAA CTTCTATCCC AGAGAGGCCA AAGTACAGTG GAAGGTGGAT 451 AACGCCCTCC AATCGGGTAA CTCCCAGGAG AGTGTCACAG AGCAGGACAG 501 CAAGGACAGC ACCTACAGCC TCAGCAGCAC CCTGACGCTG AGCAAAGCAG 551 ACTACGAGAA ACACAAAGTC TACGCCTGCG AAGTCACCCA TCAGGGCCTG 601 AGCTCGCCCG TCACAAAGAG CTTCAACAGG GGAGAGTGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-16 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 231)   1 MDMRVPAQLL GLLLLWLPGA RCDIQLTQSP SFLSASVGDR VTITCRASSS  51 ISYIHWYQQK PGKAPKLLIY ATSNLASGVP SRFSGSGSGT EFTLTISSLQ 101 PEDFATYYCQ QWSSDPLTFG GGTKVEIKRT VAAPSVFIFP PSDEQLKSGT 151 ASVVCLLNNF YPREAKVQWK VDNALQSGNS QESVTEQDSK DSTYSLSSTL 201 TLSKADYEKH KVYACEVTHQ GLSSPVTKSF NRGEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-16 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 232)   1 ATGGACATGA GGGTCCCCGC TCAGCTCCTG GGGCTCCTGC TGCTCTGGCT  51 CCCAGGTGCC AGATGTGACA TCCAGTTGAC CCAGTCTCCA TCCTTCCTGT 101 CTGCATCTGT AGGAGACAGA GTCACCATCA CTTGCAGGGC CAGCTCAAGT 151 ATAAGTTACA TACACTGGTA TCAGCAAAAA CCAGGGAAAG CCCCTAAGCT 201 CCTGATCTAT GCCACATCCA ACCTGGCTTC TGGGGTCCCA TCAAGGTTCA 251 GCGGCAGTGG ATCTGGGACA GAATTCACTC TCACAATCAG CAGCCTGCAG 301 CCTGAAGATT TTGCAACTTA TTACTGTCAG CAGTGGAGTA GTGACCCACT 351 CACGTTCGGC GGAGGGACCA AGGTGGAGAT CAAACGTACG GTGGCTGCAC 401 CATCTGTCTT CATCTTCCCG CCATCTGATG AGCAGTTGAA ATCTGGAACT 451 GCCTCTGTTG TGTGCCTGCT GAATAACTTC TATCCCAGAG AGGCCAAAGT 501 ACAGTGGAAG GTGGATAACG CCCTCCAATC GGGTAACTCC CAGGAGAGTG 551 TCACAGAGCA GGACAGCAAG GACAGCACCT ACAGCCTCAG CAGCACCCTG 601 ACGCTGAGCA AAGCAGACTA CGAGAAACAC AAAGTCTACG CCTGCGAAGT 651 CACCCATCAG GGCCTGAGCT CGCCCGTCAC AAAGAGCTTC AACAGGGGAG 701 AGTGT Ab-16 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-16 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 233)

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-16 HC without carboxy-terminal lysine:

(SEQ ID NO: 395)

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-16 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 234)    1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGTC TGGGGCTGAG GTGAAGAAGC CTGGGGCCTC   51 AGTGAAGGTC TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATT CGACATTAAG GACTACTATA  101 TACACTGGGT GCGACAGGCC CCTGGACAAG GGCTTGAGTG GATCGGAAGG  151 GTTGATCCTG ACAATGGTGA GACTGAATTT GCCCCGAAGT TCCCGGGCAA  201 GGTCACCATG ACCACAGACA CGTCCATCAG CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTGA  251 GCAGGCTGAG ATCTGACGAC ACGGCCGTGT ATTACTGTGC GAGAGAAGAC  301 TACGATGGTA CCTACACCTG GTTTCCTTAT TGGGGCCAAG GGACTCTGGT  351 CACCGTCTCT AGTGCCTCCA CCAAGGGCCC ATCGGTCTTC CCCCTGGCGC  401 CCTGCTCCAG GAGCACCTCC GAGAGCACAG CGGCCCTGGG CTGCCTGGTC  451 AAGGACTACT TCCCCGAACC GGTGACGGTG TCGTGGAACT CAGGCGCTCT  501 GACCAGCGGC GTGCACACCT TCCCAGCTGT CCTACAGTCC TCAGGACTCT  551 ACTCCCTCAG CAGCGTGGTG ACCGTGCCCT CCAGCAACTT CGGCACCCAG  601 ACCTACACCT GCAACGTAGA TCACAAGCCC AGCAACACCA AGGTGGACAA  651 GACAGTTGAG CGCAAATGTT GTGTCGAGTG CCCACCGTGC CCAGCACCAC  701 CTGTGGCAGG ACCGTCAGTC TTCCTCTTCC CCCCAAAACC CAAGGACACC  751 CTCATGATCT CCCGGACCCC TGAGGTCACG TGCGTGGTGG TGGACGTGAG  801 CCACGAAGAC CCCGAGGTCC AGTTCAACTG GTACGTGGAC GGCGTGGAGG  851 TGCATAATGC CAAGACAAAG CCACGGGAGG AGCAGTTCAA CAGCACGTTC  901 CGTGTGGTCA GCGTCCTCAC CGTTGTGCAC CAGGACTGGC TGAACGGCAA  951 GGAGTACAAG TGCAAGGTCT CCAACAAAGG CCTCCCAGCC CCCATCGAGA 1001 AAACCATCTC CAAAACCAAA GGGCAGCCCC GAGAACCACA GGTGTACACC 1051 CTGCCCCCAT CCCGGGAGGA GATGACCAAG AACCAGGTCA GCCTGACCTG 1101 CCTGGTCAAA GGCTTCTACC CCAGCGACAT CGCCGTGGAG TGGGAGAGCA 1151 ATGGGCAGCC GGAGAACAAC TACAAGACCA CACCTCCCAT GCTGGACTCC 1201 GACGGCTCCT TCTTCCTCTA CAGCAAGCTC ACCGTGGACA AGAGCAGGTG 1251 GCAGCAGGGG AACGTCTTCT CATGCTCCGT GATGCATGAG GCTCTGCACA 1301 ACCACTACAC GCAGAAGAGC CTCTCCCTGT CTCCGGGTAA A Amino acid sequence of the Ab-16 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 235)   1 MDWTWRILFL VAAATGAHSE VQLVQSGAEV KKPGASVKVS CKASGFDIKD  51 YYIHWVRQAP GQGLEWIGRV DPDNGETEFA PKFPGKVTMT TDTSISTAYM 101 ELSRLRSDDT AVYYCAREDY DGTYTWFPYW GQGTLVTVSS ASTKGPSVFP 151 LAPCSRSTSE STAALGCLVK DYFPEPVTVS WNSGALTSGV HTFPAVLQSS 201 GLYSLSSVVT VPSSNFGTQT YTCNVDHKPS NTKVDKTVER KCCVECPPCP 251 APPVAGPSVF LFPPKPKDTL MISRTPEVTC VVVDVSHEDP EVQFNWYVDG 301 VEVHNAKTKP REEQFNSTFR VVSVLTVVHQ DWLNGKEYKC KVSNKGLPAP 351 IEKTISKTKG QPREPQVYTL PPSREEMTKN QVSLTCLVKG FYPSDIAVEW 401 ESNGQPENNY KTTPPMLDSD GSFFLYSKLT VDKSRWQQGN VFSCSVMHEA 451 LHNHYTQKSL SLSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-16 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 236)    1 ATGGACTGGA CCTGGAGGAT CCTCTTCTTG GTGGCAGCAG CCACAGGAGC   51 CCACTCCGAG GTGCAGCTGG TGCAGTCTGG GGCTGAGGTG AAGAAGCCTG  101 GGGCCTCAGT GAAGGTCTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGATTCGA CATTAAGGAC  151 TACTATATAC ACTGGGTGCG ACAGGCCCCT GGACAAGGGC TTGAGTGGAT  201 CGGAAGGGTT GATCCTGACA ATGGTGAGAC TGAATTTGCC CCGAAGTTCC  251 CGGGCAAGGT CACCATGACC ACAGACACGT CCATCAGCAC AGCCTACATG  301 GAGCTGAGCA GGCTGAGATC TGACGACACG GCCGTGTATT ACTGTGCGAG  351 AGAAGACTAC GATGGTACCT ACACCTGGTT TCCTTATTGG GGCCAAGGGA  401 CTCTGGTCAC CGTCTCTAGT GCCTCCACCA AGGGCCCATC GGTCTTCCCC  451 CTGGCGCCCT GCTCCAGGAG CACCTCCGAG AGCACAGCGG CCCTGGGCTG  501 CCTGGTCAAG GACTACTTCC CCGAACCGGT GACGGTGTCG TGGAACTCAG  551 GCGCTCTGAC CAGCGGCGTG CACACCTTCC CAGCTGTCCT ACAGTCCTCA  601 GGACTCTACT CCCTCAGCAG CGTGGTGACC GTGCCCTCCA GCAACTTCGG  651 CACCCAGACC TACACCTGCA ACGTAGATCA CAAGCCCAGC AACACCAAGG  701 TGGACAAGAC AGTTGAGCGC AAATGTTGTG TCGAGTGCCC ACCGTGCCCA  751 GCACCACCTG TGGCAGGACC GTCAGTCTTC CTCTTCCCCC CAAAACCCAA  801 GGACACCCTC ATGATCTCCC GGACCCCTGA GGTCACGTGC GTGGTQGTGG  851 ACGTGAGCCA CGAAGACCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAACTGGTA CGTGGACGGC  901 GTGGAGGTGC ATAATGCCAA GACAAAGCCA CGGGAGGAGC AGTTCAACAG  951 CACGTTCCGT GTGGTCAGCG TCCTCACCGT TGTGCACCAG GACTGGCTGA 1001 ACGGCAAGGA GTACAAGTGC AAGGTCTCCA ACAAAGGCCT CCCAGCCCCC 1051 ATCGAGAAAA CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGG CAGCCCCGAG AACCACAGGT 1101 GTACACCCTG CCCCCATCCC GGGAGGAGAT GACCAAGAAC CAGGTCAGCC 1151 TGACCTGCCT GGTCAAAGGC TTCTACCCCA GCGACATCGC CGTGGAGTGG 1201 GAGAGCAATG GGCAGCCGGA GAACAACTAC AAGACCACAC CTCCCATGCT 1251 GGACTCCGAC GGCTCCTTCT TCCTCTACAG CAAGCTCACC GTGGACAAGA 1301 GCAGGTGGCA GCAGGGGAAC GTCTTCTCAT GCTCCGTGAT GCATGAGGCT 1351 CTGCACAACC ACTACACGCA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCTGTCTC CGGGTAAA

The CDR sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-16 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 293) CDR-H1: DYYIH (SEQ ID NO: 294) CDR-H2: RVDPDNGETEFAPKFPG (SEQ ID NO: 295) CDR-H3: EDYDGTYTWFPY

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-16 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 281) CDR-L1: RASSSISYIH (SEQ ID NO: 282) CDR-L2: ATSNLAS (SEQ ID NO: 283) CDR-L3: QQWSSDPLT Ab-16 Variable domains: Ab-16 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 388)

Ab-16 light chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 389)   1 GACATCCAGT TGACCCAGTC TCCATCCTTC CTGTCTGCAT CTGTAGGAGA  51 CAGAGTCACC ATCACTTGCA GGGCCAGCTC AAGTATAAGT TACATACACT 101 GGTATCAGCA AAAACCAGGG AAAGCCCCTA AGCTCCTGAT CTATGCCACA 151 TCCAACCTGG CTTCTGGGGT CCCATCAAGG TTCAGCGGCA GTGGATCTGG 201 GACAGAATTC ACTCTCACAA TCAGCAGCCT GCAGCCTGAA GATTTTGCAA 251 CTTATTACTG TCAGCAGTGG AGTAGTGACC CACTCACGTT CGGCGGAGGG 301 ACCAAGGTGG AGATCAAA Ab-16 heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 390)

Ab-16 heavy chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 391)   1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGTC TGGGGCTGAG GTGAAGAAGC CTGGGGCCTC  51 AGTGAAGGTC TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATT CGACATTAAG GACTACTATA 101 TACACTGGGT GCGACAGGCC CCTGGACAAG GGCTTGAGTG GATCGGAAGG 151 GTTGATCCTG ACAATGGTGA GACTGAATTT GCCCCGAAGT TCCCGGGCAA 201 GGTCACCATG ACCACAGACA CGTCCATCAG CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTGA 251 GCAGGCTGAG ATCTGACGAC ACGGCCGTGT ATTACTGTGC GAGAGAAGAC 301 TACGATGGTA CCTACACCTG GTTTCCTTAT TGGGGCCAAG GGACTCTGGT 351 CACCGTCTCT AGT

Additional antibodies are referred to herein as Antibodies 17-22 (also referred to herein as Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, and Ab-22). The Kappa Constant region for all VK regions of Ab-17, Ab-19, and Ab-21 is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 323) TDAAPTVSIFPFSSEQLTSGGASVVCFLNNFYPKDINVKWKIDGSERQNG VLNSWTDQDSKDSTYSMSSTLTLTKDEYERHNSYTCEATHKTSTSPIVKS FNRNEC

The Heavy Constant Region for all VH regions of antibodies 17, 19 and 21 is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 324) AKTTPPSVYPLAPGSAAQTNSMVTLGCLVKGYFPEPVTVTWNSGSLSSGV HTFPAVLQSDLYTLSSSVTVPSSTWPSETVTCNVAHPASSTKVDKKIVPR DCGCKPCICTVPEVSSVFIFPPKPKDVLTITLTPKVTCVVVDISKDDPEV QFSWFVDDVEVHTAQTQPREEQFNSTFRSVSELPIMHQDWLNGKEFKCRV NSAAFPAPIEKTISKTKGRPKAPQVYTIPPPKEQMAKDKVSLTCMITDFF PEDITVEWQWNGQPAENYKNTQPIMDTDGSYFVYSKLNVQKSNWEAGNTF TCSVLHEGLHNHHTEKSLSHSPGK

In the following antibody amino acid sequences, the boxed-shaded amino acids represent complement-determining regions (CDRs) and the underlined amino acids represent signal peptide.

Ab-17

Amino acid sequence of the Ab-17 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 299)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-17 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 300) ATGGATTTTCAGGTGCAGATTTTCAGCTTCATGCTAATCAGTGTCACAGT CATATTGTCCAGTGGAGAAATTGTGCTCACCCAGTCTCCAGCACTCATGG CTGCATCTCCAGGGGAGAAGGTCACCATCACCTGCAGTGTCAGCTCGAGT ATAAGTTCCAGCAACTTACACTGGTCCCAGCAGAAGTCAGGAACCTCCCC CAAACTCTGGATTTATGGCACATCCAACCTTGCTTCTGGAGTCCCTGTTC GCTTCAGTGGCAGTGGATCTGGGACCTCTTATTCTCTCACAATCAGCAGC ATGGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCCACTTATTACTGTCAACAGTGGACTACTAC GTATACGTTCGGATCGGGGACCAAGCTGGAGCTGAAACGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-17 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 301)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-17 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 302) ATGGGATGGAACTGGATCATCTTCTTCCTGATGGCAGTGGTTACAGGGGT CAATTCAGAGGTGCAGTTGCGGCAGTCTGGGGCAGACCTTGTGAAGCCAG GGGCCTCAGTCAAGTTGTCCTGCACAGCTTCTGGCTTCAACATTAAAGAC TACTATATACACTGGGTGAAGCAGAGGCCTGAACAGGGCCTGGAGTGGAT TGGAAGGATTGATCCTGATAATGGTGAAAGTACATATGTCCCGAAGTTCC AGGGCAAGGCCACTATAACAGCAGACACATCATCCAACACAGCCTACCTA CAACTCAGAAGCCTGACATCTGAGGACACTGCCATCTATTATTGTGGGAG AGAGGGGCTCGACTATGGTGACTACTATGCTGTGGACTACTGGGGTCAAG GAACCTCGGTCACAGTCTCGAGC Ab-17 was humanized to generate Ab-18. Ab-18 Amino acid sequence of the Ab-18 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 303)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-18 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 104) ATGGATATGCGCGTGCCGGCGCAGCTGCTGGGCCTGCTGCTGCTGTGGCT GCCGGGCGCGCGCTGCGATATTCAGCTGACCCAGAGCCCGAGCTTTCTGA GCGCGAGCGTGGGCGATCGCGTGACCATTACCTGCAGCGTGAGCAGCAGC ATTAGCAGCAGCAACCTGCATTGGTATCAGCAGAAACCGGGCAAAGCGCC GAAACTGCTGATTTATGGCACCAGCAACCTGGCGAGCGGCGTGCCGAGCC GCTTTAGCGGCAGCGGCAGCGGCACCGAATTTACCCTGACCATTAGCAGC CTGCAGCCGGAAGATTTTGCGACCTATTATTGCCAGCAGTGGACCACCAC CTATACCTTTGGCCAGGGCACCAAACTGGAAATTAAACGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-18 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 305)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-18 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 306) ATGGATTGGACCTGGAGCATTCTGTTTCTGGTGGCGGCGCCGACCGGCGC GCATAGCGAAGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGAGCGGCGCGGAAGTGAAAAAACCGG GCGCGAGCGTGAAAGTGAGCTGCAAAGCGAGCGGTTTAACATTAAAGATT ATTATATTCATTGGGTGCGCCAGGCGCCGGGCCAGGGCCTGGAATGGATG GGCCGCATTGATCCGGATAACGGCGAAAGCACCTATGTGCCGAAATTTCA GGGCCGCGTGACCATGACCACCGATACCAGCACCAGCACCGCGTATATGG AACTGCGCAGCCTGCGCAGCGATGATACCGCGGTGTATTATTGCGCGCGC GAAGGCCTGGATTATGGCGATTATTATGCGGTGGATTATTGGGGCCAGGG CACCCTGGTGACCGTCTCGAGC Ab-18 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 368)

Ab-18 light chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 369) GATATTCAGCTGACCCAGAGCCCGAGCTTTCTGAGCGCGAGCGTGGGCGA TCGCGTGACCATTACCTGCAGCGTGAGCAGCAGCATTAGCAGCAGCAACC TGCATTGGTATCAGCAGAAACCGGGCAAAGCGCCGAAACTGCTGATTTAT GGCACCAGCAACCTGGCGAGCGGCGTGCCGAGCCGCTTTAGCGGCAGCGG CAGCGGCACCGAATTTACCCTGACCATTAGCAGCCTGCAGCCGGAAGATT TTGCGACCTATTATTGCCAGCAGTGGACCACCACCTATACCTTTGGCCAG GGCACCAAACTGGAAATTAAACGT Ab-18 heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 370)

Ab-18 heavy chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 371) GAAGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGAGCGGCGCGGAAGTGAAAAAACCGGGCGCGAG CGTGAAAGTGAGCTGCAAAGCGAGCGGCTTTAACATTAAAGATTATTATA TTCATTGGGTGCGCCAGGCGCCGGGCCAGGGCCTGGAATGGATGGGCCGC ATTGATCCGGATAACGGCGAAAGCACCTATGTGCCGAAATTTCAGGGCCG CGTGACCATGACCACCGATACCAGCACCAGCACCGCGTATATGGAACTGC GCAGCCTGCGCAGCGATGATACCGCGGTGTATTATTGCGCGCGCGAAGGC CTGGATTATGGCGATTATTATGCGGTGGATTATTGGGGCCAGGGCACCCT GGTGACCGTCTCGAGC Ab-19 Amino acid sequence of the Ab-19 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 307)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-19 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 308) ATGATGTCCTCTGCTCAGTTCCTTGGTCTCCTGTTGCTCTGTTTTCAAGG TACCAGATGTGATATCCAGATGACACAGACTACATCCTCCCTGTCTGCCT CTCTGGGAGACAGAGTCAACATCAGCTGCAGGGCAAGTCAGGACATTAGC AGTTATTTAAACTGGTATCAGCAGAAACCAGATGGAACTGTTAAACTCCT GATCTACTCCACATCAAGATTAAACTCAGGAGTCCCATCAAGGTTCAGTG GCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGATTATTCTCTCACTATTAGCAACCTGGCACAA GAAGATATTGCCACTTACTTTTGCCAACAGGATATTAAGCATCCGACGTT CGGTGGAGGCACCAAGTTGGAGCTGAAACGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-19 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 309)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-19 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 310) ATGGAATGGATCTGGATATTTCTCTTCCTCCTGTCAGGAACTGCAGGTGT CCACTCTGAGGTCCAGCTGCAGCAGTCTGGACCTGAGCTGGTAAAGCCTG GGGCTTCAGTGAAGATGTCCTGCAAGGCTTCTGGGTTCACATTCACTGAC TACATTATGCACTGGGTGAAGCAGAAGCCTGGGCAGGGCCTTGAGTGGAT TGGATATATTAATCCTTACAATGATGATACTGAATACAATGAGAAGTTCA AAGGCAAGGCCACACTGACTTCAGACAAATCCTCCAGCACAGCCTACATG GATCTCAGCAGTCTGACCTCTGAGGGCTCTGCGGTCTATTACTGTGCAAG ATCGATTTATTACTACGATGCCCCGTTTGCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTC TGGTCACAGTCTCGAGC Ab-19 was humanized to generate Antibody 20 (also referred to herein as Ab-20) and Antibody 23 (also referred to herein as Ab-23). Ab-20 IgG4 version Amino acid sequence of the Ab-20 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 311)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-20 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 312) ATGATGTCCTCTGCTCAGTTCCTTGGTCTCCTGTTGCTCTGTTTTCAAGG TACCAGATGTGATATCCAGATGACCCAGTCTCCATCCTCCCTGTCTGCAT CTGTAGGTGACCGTGTCACCATCACTTGCCGCGCAAGTCAGGATATTAGC AGCTATTTAAATTGGTATCAGCAGAAACCAGGGAAAGCCCCTAAGCTCCT GATCTATTCTACTTCCCGTTTGAATAGTGGGGTCCCATCACGCTTCAGTG GCAGTGGCTCTGGGACAGATTTCACTCTCACCATCAGCAGTCTGCAACCT GAAGATTTTGCAACTTACTACTGTCAACAGGATATTAAACACCCTACGTT CGGTCAAGGCACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAACGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-20 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 313)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-20 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 349) ATGGAATGGATCTGGATATTTCTCTTCCTCCTGTCAGGAACTGCAGGTGT CCACTCTGAGGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGTCTGGGGCTGAGGTGAAGAAGCCTG GGTCCTCGGTGAAGGTCTCCTGCAAGGCTTCTGGTTTTACCTTCACCGAC TATATTATGCACTGGGTGCGTCAGGCCCCTGGTCAAGGGCTTGAGTGGAT GGGCTATATCAACCCTTATAATGATGACACCGAATACAACGAGAAGTTCA AGGGCCGTGTCACGATTACCGCGGACAAATCCACGAGCACAGCCTACATG GAGCTGAGCAGCCTGCGCTCTGAGGACACGGCCGTGTATTACTGTGCGCG TTCGATTTATTACTACGATGCCCCGTTTGCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTC TGGTCACAGTCTCGAGC Ab-23 IgG2 version Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-23 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 341)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-23 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 342)  1 GACATCCAGA TGACCCAGTC TCCATCCTCC CTGTCTGCAT CTGTAGGTGA  51 CCGTGTCACC ATCACTTGCC GCGCAAGTCA GGATATTAGC AGCTATTTAA 101 ATTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GGGAAAGCCC CTAAGCTCCT GATCTATTCT 151 ACTTCCCGTT TGAATAGTGG GGTCCCATCA CGCTTCAGTG GCAGTGGCTC 201 TGGGACAGAT TTCACTCTCA CCATCAGCAG TCTGCAACCT GAAGATTTTG 251 CAACTTACTA CTGTCAACAG GATATTAAAC ACCCTACGTT CGGTCAAGGC 301 ACCAAGGTGG AGATCAAACG TACGGTGGCT GCACCATCTG TCTTCATCTT 351 CCCGCCATCT GATGAGCAGT TGAAATCTGG AACTGCCTCT GTTGTGTGCC 401 TGCTGAATAA CTTCTATCCC AGAGAGGCCA AAGTACAGTG GAAGGTGGAT 451 AACGCCCTCC AATCGGGTAA CTCCCAGGAG AGTGTCACAG AGCAGGACAG 501 CAAGGACAGC ACCTACAGCC TCAGCAGCAC CCTGACGCTG AGCAAAGCAG 551 ACTACGAGAA ACACAAAGTC TACGCCTGCG AAGTCACCCA TCAGGGCCTG 601 AGCTCGCCCG TCACAAAGAG CTTCAACAGG GGAGAGTGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-23 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 343)   1 MDMRVPAQLL GLLLLWLRGA RCDIQMTQSP SSLSASVGDR VTITCRASQD  51 ISSYLNWYQQ KPGKAPKLLI YSTSRLNSGV PSRFSGSGSG TDFTLTISSL 101 QPEDFATYYC QQDIKHPTFG QGTKVEIKRT VAAPSVFIFP PSDEQLKSGT 151 ASVVCLLNNF YPREAKVQWK VDNALQSGNS QESVTEQDSK DSTYSLSSTL 201 TLSKADYEKH KVYACEVTHQ GLSSPVTKSF NRGEC Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-23 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 344)   1 ATGGACATGA GGGTGCCCGC TCAGCTCCTG GGGCTCCTGC TGCTGTGGCT  51 GAGAGGTGCC AGATGTGACA TCCAGATGAC CCAGTCTCCA TCCTCCCTGT 101 CTGCATCTGT AGGTGACCGT GTCACCATCA CTTGCCGCGC AAGTCAGGAT 151 ATTAGCAGCT ATTTAAATTG GTATCAGCAG AAACCAGGGA AAGCCCCTAA 201 GCTCCTGATC TATTCTACTT CCCGTTTGAA TAGTGGGGTC CCATCACGCT 251 TCAGTGGCAG TGGCTCTGGG ACAGATTTCA CTCTCACCAT CAGCAGTCTG 301 CAACCTGAAG ATTTTGCAAC TTACTACTGT CAACAGGATA TTAAACACCC 351 TACGTTCGGT CAAGGCACCA AGGTGGAGAT CAAACGTACG GTGGCTGCAC 401 CATCTGTCTT CATCTTCCCG CCATCTGATG AGCAGTTGAA ATCTGGAACT 451 GCCTCTGTTG TGTGCCTGCT GAATAACTTC TATCCCAGAG AGGCCAAAGT 501 ACAGTGGAAG GTGGATAACG CCCTCCAATC GGGTAACTCC CAGGAGAGTG 551 TCACAGAGCA GGACAGCAAG GACAGCACCT ACAGCCTCAG CAGCACCCTG 601 ACGCTGAGCA AAGCAGACTA CGAGAAACAC AAAGTCTACG CCTGCGAAGT 651 CACCCATCAG GGCCTGAGCT CGCCCGTCAC AAAGAGCTTC AACAGGGGAG 701 AGTGT Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-23 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 345)  

Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-23 HC without carboxy-terminal lysine:

(SEQ ID NO: 396)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-23 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 346)    1 GAGGTGCAGC TGGTGCAGTC TGGGGCTGAG GTGAAGAAGC CTGGGTCCTC   51 GGTGAAGGTC TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGTTT TACCTTCACC GACTATATTA  101 TGCACTGGGT GCGTCAGGCC CCTGGTCAAG GGCTTGAGTG GATGGGCTAT  151 ATCAACCCTT ATAATGATGA CACCGAATAC AACGAGAAGT TCAAGGGCCG  201 TGTCACGATT ACCGCGGACA AATCCACGAG CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTGA  251 GCAGCCTGCG CTCTGAGGAC ACGGCCGTGT ATTACTGTGC GCGTTCGATT  301 TATTACTACG ATGCCCCGTT TGCTTACTGG GGCCAAGGGA CTCTGGTCAC  351 CGTCTCTAGT GCCTCCACCA AGGGCCCATC GGTCTTCCCC CTGGCGCCCT  401 GCTCCAGGAG CACCTCCGAG AGCACAGCGG CCCTGGGCTG CCTGGTCAAG  451 GACTACTTCC CCGAACCGGT GACGGTGTCG TGGAACTCAG GCGCTCTGAC  501 CAGCGGCGTG CACACCTTCC CAGCTGTCCT ACAGTCCTCA GGACTCTACT  551 CCCTCAGCAG CGTGGTGACC GTGCCCTCCA GCAACTTCGG CACCCAGACC  601 TACACCTGCA ACGTAGATCA CAAGCCCAGC AACACCAAGG TGGACAAGAC  651 AGTTGAGCGC AAATGTTGTG TCGAGTGCCC ACCGTGCCCA GCACCACCTG  701 TGGCAGGACC GTCAGTCTTC CTCTTCCCCC CAAAACCCAA GGACACCCTC  751 ATGATCTCCC GGACCCCTGA GGTCACGTGC GTGGTGGTGG ACGTGAGCCA  801 CGAAGACCCC GAGGTCCAGT TCAACTGGTA CGTGGACGGC GTGGAGGTGC  851 ATAATGCCAA GACAAAGCCA CGGGAGGAGC AGTTCAACAG CACGTTCCGT  901 GTGGTCAGCG TCCTCACCGT TGTGCACCAG GACTGGCTGA ACGGCAAGGA  951 GTACAAGTGC AAGGTCTCCA ACAAAGGCCT CCCAGCCCCC ATCGAGAAAA 1001 CCATCTCCAA AACCAAAGGG CAGCCCCGAG AACCACAGGT GTACACCCTG 1051 CCCCCATCCC GGGAGGAGAT GACCAAGAAC CAGGTCAGCC TGACCTGCCT 1101 GGTCAAAGGC TTCTACCCCA GCGACATCGC CGTGGAGTGG GAGAGCAATG 1151 GGCAGCCGGA GAACAACTAC AAGACCACAC CTCCCATGCT GGACTCCGAC 1201 GGCTCCTTCT TCCTCTACAG CAAGCTCACC GTGGACAAGA GCAGGTGGCA 1251 GCAGGGGAAC GTCTTCTCAT GCTCCGTGAT GCATGAGGCT CTGCACAACC 1301 ACTACACGCA GAAGAGCCTC TCCCTGTCTC CGGGTAAA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-23 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 347)   1 MDWTWRILFL VAAATGAHSE VQLVQSGAEV KKPGSSVKVS CKASGFTFTD  51 YIMHWVRQAP GQGLEWMGYI NPYNDDTEYN EKFKGRVTIT ADKSTSTAYM 101 ELSSLRSEDT AVYYCARSIY YYDAPFAYWG QGTLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL 151 APCSRSTSES TAALGCLVKD YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG 201 LYSLSSVVTV PSSNFGTQTY TCNVDHKPSN TKVDKTVERK CCVECPPCPA 251 PPVAGPSVFL FPPKPKDTLM ISRTPEVTCV VVDVSHEDPE VQFNWYVDGV 301 EVHNAKTKPR EEQFNSTFRV VSVLTVVHQD WLNGKEYKCK VSNKGLPAPI 351 EKTISKTKGQ PREPQVYTLP PSREEMTKNQ VSLTCLVKGF YPSDIAVEWE 401 SNGQPENNYK TTPPMLDSDG SFFLYSKLTV DKSRWQQGNV FSCSVMHEAL 451 HNHYTQKSLS LSPGK Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-23 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 348)    1 ATGGACTGGA CCTGGAGGAT CCTCTTCTTG GTGGCAGCAG CCACAGGAGC   51 CCACTCCGAG GTGCAGCTGG TGCAGTCTGG GGCTGAGGTG AAGAAGCCTG  101 GGTCCTCGGT GAAGGTCTCC TGCAAGGCTT CTGGTTTTAC CTTCACCGAC  151 TATATTATGC ACTGGGTGCG TCAGGCCCCT GGTCAAGGGC TTGAGTGGAT  201 GGGCTATATC AACCCTTATA ATGATGACAC CGAATACAAC GAGAAGTTCA  251 AGGGCCGTGT CACGATTACC GCGGACAAAT CCACGAGCAC AGCCTACATG  301 GAGCTGAGCA GCCTGCGCTC TGAGGACACG GCCGTGTATT ACTGTGCGCG  351 TTCGATTTAT TACTACGATG CCCCGTTTGC TTACTGGGGC CAAGGGACTC  401 TGGTCACCGT CTCTAGTGCC TCCACCAAGG GCCCATCGGT CTTCCCCCTG  451 GCGCCCTGCT CCAGGAGCAC CTCCGAGAGC ACAGCGGCCC TGGGCTGCCT  501 GGTCAAGGAC TACTTCCCCG AACCGGTGAC GGTGTCGTGG AACTCAGGCG  551 CTCTGACCAG CGGCGTGCAC ACCTTCCCAG CTGTCCTACA GTCCTCAGGA  601 CTCTACTCCC TCAGCAGCGT GGTGACCGTG CCCTCCAGCA ACTTCGGCAC  651 CCAGACCTAC ACCTGCAACG TAGATCACAA GCCCAGCAAC ACCAAGGTGG  701 ACAAGACAGT TGAGCGCAAA TGTTGTGTCG AGTGCCCACC GTGCCCAGCA  751 CCACCTGTGG CAGGACCGTC AGTCTTCCTC TTCCCCCCAA AACCCAAGGA  801 CACCCTCATG ATCTCCCGGA CCCCTGAGGT CACGTGCGTG GTGGTGGACG  851 TGAGCCACGA AGACCCCGAG GTCCAGTTCA ACTGGTACGT GGACGGCGTG  901 GAGGTGCATA ATGCCAAGAC AAAGCCACGG GAGGAGCAGT TCAACAGCAC  951 GTTCCGTGTG GTCAGCGTCC TCACCGTTGT GCACCAGGAC TGGCTGAACG 1001 GCAAGGAGTA CAAGTGCAAG GTCTCCAACA AAGGCCTCCC AGCCCCCATC 1051 GAGAAAACCA TCTCCAAAAC CAAAGGGCAG CCCCGAGAAC CACAGGTGTA 1101 CACCCTGCCC CCATCCCGGG AGGAGATGAC CAAGAACCAG GTCAGCCTGA 1151 CCTGCCTGGT CAAAGGCTTC TACCCCAGCG ACATCGCCGT GGAGTGGGAG 1201 AGCAATGGGC AGCCGGAGAA CAACTACAAG ACCACACCTC CCATGCTGGA 1251 CTCCGACGGC TCCTTCTTCC TCTACAGCAA GCTCACCGTG GACAAGAGCA 1301 GGTGGCAGCA GGGGAACGTC TTCTCATGCT CCGTGATGCA TGAGGCTCTG 1351 CACAACCACT ACACGCAGAA GAGCCTCTCC CTGTCTCCGG GTAAA

The CDR (complementarity determining region) sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-23 are as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 269) CDR-H1: DYIMH (SEQ ID NO: 270) CDR-H2: YINPYNDDTEYNEKFKG (SEQ ID NO: 271) CDR-H3: SIYYYDAPFAY

The light chain variable region CDR sequences of Ab-23 are:

(SEQ ID NO: 239) CDR-L1: RASQDISSYLN (SEQ ID NO: 240) CDR-L2: STSRLNS (SEQ ID NO: 241) CDR-L3: QQDIKHPT Ab-23 Variable domains: Ab-23 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 364) DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYS TSRLNSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLQP EDFATYYCQQ DIKHPTFGQG TKVEIK Ab-23 light chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 365) GACATCCAGATGACCCAGTCTCCATCCTCCCTGTCTGCATCTGTAGGTGA CCGTGTCACC ATCACTTGCC GCGCAAGTCA GGATATTAGC AGCTATTTAAATTGGTATCA GCAGAAACCA GGGAAAGCCC CTAAGCTCCT GATCTATTCTACTTCCCGTT TGAATAGTGG GGTCCCATCA CGCTTCAGTG GCAGTGGCTCTGGGACAGAT TTCACTCTCA CCATCAGCAG TCTGCAACCT GAAGATTTTGCAACTTACTA CTGTCAACAG GATATTAAAC ACCCTACGTT CGGTCAAGGCACCAAGGTGG AGATCAAA Ab-23 heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 366) EVQLVQSGAE VKKPGSSVKV SCKASGFTFT DYIMHWVRQA PGQGLEWMGYINPYNDDTEY NEKFKGRVTI TADKSTSTAY MELSSLRSED TAVYYCARSIYYYDAPFAYW GQGTLVTVSS Ab-23 heavy chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 367) GAGGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGTCTGGGGCTGAGGTGAAGAAGCCTGGGTCCTC GGTGAAGGTC TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGTTT TACCTTCACC GACTATATTATGCACTGGGT GCGTCAGGCC CCTGGTCAAG GGCTTGAGTG GATGGGCTATATCAACCCTT ATAATGATGA CACCGAATAC AACGAGAAGT TCAAGGGCCGTGTCACGATT ACCGCGGACA AATCCACGAG CACAGCCTAC ATGGAGCTGAGCAGCCTGCG CTCTGAGGAC ACGGCCGTGT ATTACTGTGC GCGTTCGATTTATTACTACG ATGCCCCGTT TGCTTACTGG GGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACCGTCTCTAGT Ab-21 Amino acid sequence of the Ab-21 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 315)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-21 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 316) ATGAAGTCACAGACCCAGGTCTTTGTATACATGTTGCTGTGGTTGTCTGG TGTTGAAGGAGACATTGTGATGACCCAGTCTCACAAATTCATGTCCACGT CAGTAGGAGACAGGGTCACCATCACCTGCAAGGCCAGTCAGGATGTCTTT ACTGCTGTAGCCTGGTATCAACAGAAACCAGGACAATCTCCTAAACTACT GATTTACTGGGCATCCACCCGGCACACTGGAGTCCCTGATCGCTTCACAG GCAGTGGATCTGGGACAGATTTCACTCTCACCATTAGCAATGTGCAGTCT GAAGACTTGGCAGATTATTTCTGTCAACAATATAGCAGCTATCCTCTCAC GTTCGGTGCTGGGACCAAGTTGGAGCTGAAACGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-21 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 317)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-21 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 318) ATGGGATGGAACTGGATCATCTTCTTCCTGATGGCAGTGGTTACAGGGGT CAATTCAGAGGTTCAGCTGCAGCAGTCTGGGGCTGAGCTTGTGAGGCCAG GGGCCTTAGTCAAGTTGTCCTGCAAAGCTTCTGGCTTCAATATTAAAGAC TACTATATGCACTGGGTGAAGCAGAGGCCTGAACAGGGCCTGGAGTGGAT TGGAAGGATTGATCCTGAGAATGGTGATATTATATATGACCCGAAGTTCC AGGGCAAGGCCAGTATAACAACAGACACATCCTCCAACACAGCCTACCTG CAGCTCAGCAGCCTGACGTCTGAGGACACTGCCGTCTATTACTGTGCTTA CGATGCTGGTGACCCCGCCTGGTTTACTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGG TCACCGTCTCGAGC Ab-21 was humanized to yield Ab-22. Ab-22 Amino acid sequence of the Ab-22 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 319)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-22 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 320) ATGGATATGCGCGTGCCGGCGCAGCTGCTGGGCCTGCTGCTGCTGTGGCT GCGCGGCGCGCGCTGCGATATCCAGATGACCCAGAGCCCGAGCAGCCTGA GCGCGAGCGTGGGCGATCGCGTGACCATTACCTGCAAAGCGAGCCAGGAT GTGTTTACCGCGGTGGCGTGGTATCAGCAGAAACCGGCTCAAAGCGCCGA AACTGCTGATTTATTGGGCGAGCACCCGCCATACCGGCGTGCCGAGTCGC TTTAGCGGCAGCGGCAGCGGCACCGATTTTACCCTGACCATTAGCAGCCT GCAGCCGGAAGATTTTGCGACCTATTATTGCCAGCAGTATAGCAGCTATC CGCTGACCTTTGGCGGCGGCACCAAAGTGGAAATTAAACGT Amino acid sequence of the Ab-22 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 321)

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-22 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 322) ATGGATTGGACCTGGAGCATTCTGTTTCTGGTGGCGGCGCCGACCGGCGC GCATAGCGAAGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGAGCGGCGCGGAAGTGAAAAAACCGG GCGCGAGCGTGAAAGTGAGCTGCAAAGCGAGCGGCTTTAACATTAAAGAT TATTATATGCATTGGGTGCGCCAGGCGCCGGGCCAGGGCCTGGAATGGAT CGGCCGCATTGATCCGGAAAACGGCGATATTATTTATGATCCGAAATTTC AGGGCCGCGTGACCATGACCACCGATACCAGCACCAGCACCGCGTATATG GAACTGCGCAGCCTGCGCAGCGATGATACCGCGGTGTATTATTGCGCGTA TGATGCGGGCGATCCGGCGTGGTTTACCTATTGGGGCCAGGGCACCCTGG TGACCGTCTCGAGC Ab-22 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 336) DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCKASQDVF TAVAWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYW ASTRHTGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLQP EDFATYYCQQ YSSYPLTFGG GTKVEIKR Ab-22 light chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 337) GATATCCAGATGACCCAGAGCCCGAGCAGCCTGAGCGCGAGCGTGGGCGA TCGCGTGACCATTACCTGCAAAGCGAGCCAGGATGTGTTTACCGCGGTGG CGTGGTATCAGCAGAAACCGGGCAAAGCGCCGAAACTGCTGATTTATTGG GCGAGCACCCGCCATACCGGCGTGCCGAGTCGCTTTAGCGGCAGCGGCAG CGGCACCGATTTTACCCTGACCATTAGCAGCCTGCAGCCGGAAGATTTTG CGACCTATTATTGCCAGCAGTATAGCAGCTATCCGCTGACCTTTGGCGGC GGCACCAAAGTGGAAATTAAACGT Ab-22 heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 338) EVQLVQSGAE VKKPGASVKV SCKASGFNIK DYYMHWVRQA PGQGLEWIGRIDPENGDIIY DPKFQGRVTM TTDTSTSTAY MELRSLRSDD TAVYYCAYDAGDPAWFTYWG QGTLVTVSS Ab-22 heavy chain variable domain DNA sequence (without signal sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 339) GAAGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGAGCGGCGCGGAAGTGAAAAAACCGGGCGCGAG CGTGAAAGTGAGCTGCAAAGCGAGCGGCTTTAACATTAAAGATTATTATA TGCATTGGGTGCGCCAGGCGCCGGGCCAGGGCCTGGAATGGATCGGCCGC ATTGATCCGGAAAACGGCGATATTATTTATGATCCGAAATTTCAGGGCCG CGTGACCATGACCACCGATACCAGCACCAGCACCGCGTATATGGAACTGC GCAGCCTGCGCAGCGATGATACCGCGGTGTATTATTGCGCGTATGATGCG GGCGATCCGGCGTGGTTTACCTATTGGGGCCAGGGCACCCTGGTGACCGT CTCGAGC. For Ab-18, Ab-20, and Ab-22, the light chain human kappa constant region is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 325) TVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGN SQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKS FNRGEC* and the heavy chain human gamma-4 constant region is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 326) ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGV HTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVES KYGPPCPPCPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQED PEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVK GFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEG NVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK* The hinge region contains the Ser-241-Pro mutation to improve hinge stability (Angal S et al, (1993), Mol Immunol, 30(1), 105-108). Ab-24 The sequences of Antibody 24 (also referred to herein as Ab-24) LC and HC are as follows: Light Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-24 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 350)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-24 LC:

(SEQ ID NO: 354)   1 GACATTGTGT TGACCCAGTC TCCAGCTTCT TTGGCTGTGT CTCTAGGGCA  51 GAGGGCCACC ATCGCCTGCA AGGCCAGCCA AAGTGTTGAT TATGATGGTA 101 CTAGTTATAT GAATTGGTAC CAACAGAAAC CAGGACAGCC ACCCAAACTC 151 CTCATCTATG CTGCATCCAA TCTAGAATCT GAGATCCCAG CCAGGTTTAG 201 TGGCACTGGG TCTGGGACAG ACTTCACCCT CAACATCCAT CCTGTGGAGG 251 AGGAGGATAT CACAACCTAT TACTGTCAGC AAAGTAATGA GGATCCGTTC 301 ACGTTCGGAG GGGGGACCAA GTTGGAAATA AAACGGGCTG ATGCTGCACC 351 AACTGTATCC ATCTTCCCAC CATCCAGTGA GCAGTTAACA TCTGGAGGTG 401 CCTCAGTCGT GTGCTTCTTG AACAACTTCT ACCCCAAAGA CATCAATGTC 451 AAGTGGAAGA TTGATGGCAG TGAACGACAA AATGGCGTCC TGAACAGTTG 501 GACTGATCAG GACAGCAAAG ACAGCACCTA CAGCATGAGC AGCACCCTCA 551 CGTTGACCAA GGACGAGTAT GAACGACATA ACAGCTATAC CTGTGAGGCC 601 ACTCACAAGA CATCAACTTC ACCCATTGTC AAGAGCTTCA ACAGGAATGA 651 GTGTTAG Amino acid sequence of the Ab-24 LC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 355)   1 METDTILLWV LLLWVPGSTG DIVLTQSPAS LAVSLGQRAT IACKASQSVD  51 YDGTSYMNWY QQKPGQPPKL LIYAASNLES EIPARFSGTG SGTDFTLNIH 101 PVEEEDITTY YCQQSNEDPF TFGGGTKLEI KRADAAPTVS IFPPSSEQLT 151 SGGASVVCFL NNFYPKDINV KWKIDGSERQ NGVLNSWTDQ DSKDSTYSMS 201 STLTLTKDEY ERHNSYTCEA THKTSTSPIV KSFNRNEC

Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-24 LC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 356)   1 ATGGAGACAG ACACAATCCT GCTATGGGTG CTGCTGCTCT GGGTTCCAGG  51 CTCCACTGGT GACATTGTGT TGACCCAGTC TCCAGCTTCT TTGGCTGTGT 101 CTCTAGGGCA GAGGGCCACC ATCGCCTGCA AGGCCAGCCA AAGTGTTGAT 151 TATGATGGTA CTAGTTATAT GAATTGGTAC CAACAGAAAC CAGGACAGCC 201 ACCCAAACTC CTCATCTATG CTGCATCCAA TCTAGAATCT GAGATCCCAG 251 CCAGGTTTAG TGGCACTGGG TCTGGGACAG ACTTCACCCT CAACATCCAT 301 CCTGTGGAGG AGGAGGATAT CACAACCTAT TACTGTCAGC AAAGTAATGA 351 GGATCCGTTC ACGTTCGGAG GGGGGACCAA GTIGGAAATA AAACGGGCTG 401 ATGCTGCACC AACTGTATCC ATCTTCCCAC CATCCAGTGA GCAGTTAACA 451 TCTGGAGGTG CCTCAGTCGT GTGCTTCTTG AACAACTTCT ACCCCAAAGA 501 CATCAATGTC AAGTGGAAGA TTGATGGCAG TGAACGACAA AATGGCGTCC 551 TGAACAGTTG GACTGATCAG GACAGCAAAG ACAGCACCTA CAGCATGAGC 601 AGCACCCTCA CGTTGACCAA GGACGAGTAT GAACGACATA ACAGCTATAC 651 CTGTGAGGCC ACTCACAAGA CATCAACTTC ACCCATTGTC AAGAGCTTCA 701 ACAGGAATGA GTGTTAG Ab-24 Heavy Chain: Amino acid sequence of the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-24 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 357)  

Nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature form (signal peptide removed) of the Ab-24 HC:

(SEQ ID NO: 361)    1 CAGGTCCAAC TACAGCAGCC TGGGACTGAG CTGGTGAGGC CTGGAACTTC   51 AGTGAAGTTG TCCTGTAAGG CTTCTGGCTA CATCTTCACC ACCTACTGGA  101 TGAACTGGGT GAAACAGAGG CCTGGACAAG GCCTTGAGTG GATTGGCATG  151 ATTCATCCTT CCGCAAGTGA AATTAGGTTG GATCAGAAAT TCAAGGACAA  201 GGCCACATTG ACTCTTGACA AATCCTCCAG CACAGCCTAT ATGCACCTCA  251 GCGGCCCGAC ATCTGTGGAT TCTGCGGTCT ATTACTGTGC AAGATCAGGG  301 GAATGGGGGT CTATGGACTA CTGGGGTCAA GGAACCTCAG TCACCGTCTC  351 CTCAGCCAAA ACGACACCCC CATCTGTCTA TCCACTGGCC CCTGGATCTG  401 CTGCCCAAAC TAACTCCATG GTGACCCTGG GATGCCTGGT CAAGGGCTAT  451 TTCCCTGAGC CAGTGACAGT GACCTGGAAC TCTGGATCCC TGTCCAGCGG  501 TGTGCACACC TTCCCAGCTG TCCTGCAGTC TGACCTCTAC ACTCTGAGCA  551 GCTCAGTGAC TGTCCCCTCC AGCACCTGGC CCAGCGAGAC CGTCACCTGC  601 AACGTTGCCC ACCCGGCCAG CAGCACCAAG GTGGACAAGA AAATTGTGCC  651 CAGGGATTGT GGTTGTAAGC CTTGCATATG TACAGTCCCA GAAGTATCAT  701 CTGTCTTCAT CTTCCCCCCA AAGCCCAAGG ATGTGCTCAC CATTACTCTG  751 ACTCCTAAGG TCACGTGTGT TGTGGTAGAC ATCAGCAAGG ATGATCCCGA  801 GGTCCAGTTC AGCTGGTTTG TAGATGATGT GGAGGTGCAC ACAGCTCAGA  851 CGCAACCCCG GGAGGAGCAG TTCAACAGCA CTTTCCGCTC AGTCAGTGAA  901 CTTCCCATCA TGCACCAGGA CTGGCTCAAT GGCAAGGAGT TCAAATGCAG  951 GGTCAACAGT GCAGCTTTCC CTGCCCCCAT CGAGAAAACC ATCTCCAAAA 1001 CCAAAGGCAG ACCGAAGGCT CCACAGGTGT ACACCATTCC ACCTCCCAAG 1051 GAGCAGATGG CCAAGGATAA AGTCAGTCTG ACCTGCATGA TAACAGACTT 1101 CTTCCCTGAA GACATTACTG TGGAGTGGCA GTGGAATGGG CAGCCAGCGG 1151 AGAACTACAA GAACACTCAG CCCATCATGG ACACAGATGG CTCTTACTTC 1201 ATCTACAGCA AGCTCAATGT GCAGAAGAGC AACTGGGAGG CAGGAAATAC 1251 TTTCACCTGC TCTGTGTTAC ATGAGGGCCT GCACAACCAC CATACTGAGA 1301 AGAGCCTCTC CCACTCTCCT GGTAAATGA Amino acid sequence of the Ab-24 HC including signal peptide:

(SEQ ID NO: 362)   1 MGWSSIILFL VATATGVHSQ VQLQQPGTEL VRPGTSVKLS CKASGYIFTT  51 YWMNWVKQRP GQGLEWIGMI HPSASEIRLD QKFKDKATLT LDKSSSTAYM 101 HLSGPTSVDS AVYYCARSGE WGSMDYWGQG TSVTVSSAKT TPPSVYPLAP 151 GSAAQTNSMV TLGCLVKGYF PEPVTVTWNS GSLSSGVHTF PAVLQSDLYT 201 LSSSVTVPSS TWPSETVTCN VAHPASSTKV DKKIVPRDCG CKPCICTVPE 251 VSSVFIFPPK PKDVLTITLT PKVTCVVVDI SKDDPEVQFS WFVDDVEVHT 301 AQTQPREEQF NSTFRSVSEL PIMHQDWLNG KEFKCRVNSA AFPAPIEKTI 351 SKTKGRPKAP QVYTIPPPKE QMAKDKVSLT CMITDFFPED ITVEWQWNGQ 401 PAENYKNTQP IMDTDGSYFI YSKLNVQKSN WEAGNTFTCS VLHEGLHNHH 451 TEKSLSHSPG K Nucleic acid sequence of the Ab-24 HC including signal peptide encoding sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 363)    1 ATGGGATGGA GCTCTATCAT CCTCTTCTTG GTAGCAACAG CTACAGGTGT   51 CCACTCCCAG GTCCAACTAC AGCAGCCTGG GACTGAGCTG GTGAGGCCTG  101 GAACTTCAGT GAAGTTGTCC TGTAAGGCTT CTGGCTACAT CTTCACCACC  151 TACTGGATGA ACTGGGTGAA ACAGAGGCCT GGACAAGGCC TTGAGTGGAT  201 TGGCATGATT CATCCTTCCG CAAGTGAAAT TAGGTTGGAT CAGAAATTCA  251 AGGACAAGGC CACATTGACT CTTGACAAAT CCTCCAGCAC AGCCTATATG  301 CACCTCAGCG GCCCGACATC TGTGGATTCT GCGGTCTATT ACTGTGCAAG  351 ATCAGGGGAA TGGGGGTCTA TGGACTACTG GGGTCAAGGA ACCTCAGTCA  401 CCGTCTCCTC AGCCAAAACG ACACCCCCAT CTGTCTATCC ACTGGCCCCT  451 GGATCTGCTG CCCAAACTAA CTCCATGGTG ACCCTGGGAT GCCTGGTCAA  501 GGGCTATTTC CCTGAGCCAG TGACAGTGAC CTGGAACTCT GGATCCCTGT  551 CCAGCGGTGT GCACACCTTC CCAGCTGTCC TGCAGTCTGA CCTCTACACT  601 CTGAGCAGCT CAGTGACTGT CCCCTCCAGC ACCTGGCCCA GCGAGACCGT  651 CACCTGCAAC GTTGCCCACC CGGCCAGCAG CACCAAGGTG GACAAGAAAA  701 TTGTGCCCAG GGATTGTGGT TGTAAGCCTT GCATATGTAC AGTCCCAGAA  751 GTATCATCTG TCTTCATCTT CCCCCCAAAG CCCAAGGATG TGCTCACCAT  801 TACTCTGACT CCTAAGGTCA CGTGTGTTGT GGTAGACATC AGCAAGGATG  851 ATCCCGAGGT CCAGTTCAGC TGGTTTGTAG ATGATGTGGA GGTGCACACA  901 GCTCAGACGC AACCCCGGGA GGAGCAGTTC AACAGCACTT TCCGCTCAGT  951 CAGTGAACTT CCCATCATGC ACCAGGACTG GCTCAATGGC AAGGAGTTCA 1001 AATGCAGGGT CAACAGTGCA GCTTTCCCTG CCCCCATCGA GAAAACCATC 1051 TCCAAAACCA AAGGCAGACC GAAGGCTCCA CAGGTGTACA CCATTCCACC 1101 TCCCAAGGAG CAGATGGCCA AGGATAAAGT CAGTCTGACC TGCATGATAA 1151 CAGACTTCTT CCCTGAAGAC ATTACTGTGG AGTGGCAGTG GAATGGGCAG 1201 CCAGCGGAGA ACTACAAGAA CACTCAGCCC ATCATGGACA CAGATGGCTC 1251 TTACTTCATC TACAGCAAGC TCAATGTGCA GAAGAGCAAC TGGGAGGCAG 1301 GAAATACTTT CACCTGCTCT GTGTTACATG AGGGCCTGCA CAACCACCAT 1351 ACTGAGAAGA GCCTCTCCCA CTCTCCTGGT AAATGA The CDR sequences in the variable region of the light chain of Ab-24 are as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 351) CDR-L1: KASQSVDYDGTSYMN (SEQ ID NO: 352) CDR-L2: AASNLES (SEQ ID NO: 353) CDR-L3: QQSNEDPFT The CDR sequences in the variable region of the heavy chain of Ab-24 are as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 358) CDR-H1: TYWMN (SEQ ID NO: 359) CDR-H2: MIHPSASEIRLDQKFKD (SEQ ID NO: 360) CDR-H3: SGEWGSMDY

Table 1 below provides the SEQ ID NOs and amino acid sequences of the CDR's of Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24. L1, L2, and L3 refer to light chain CDR's 1, 2, and 3, and H1, H2, and H3 refer to heavy chain CDR's 1, 2, and 3 according to the Kabat numbering system (Kabat et at, 1987 in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH, USA).

TABLE 1 SEQ ID AMINO ACID NO DESCRIPTION SEQUENCE  54 Ab-A and Ab-1 CDR-L1 QSSQSVYDNNWLA  55 Ab-A and Ab-1 CDR-L2 DASDLAS  56 Ab-A and Ab-1 CDR-L3 QGAYNDVIYA  51 Ab-A and Ab-1 CDR-H1 SYWMN  52 Ab-A and Ab-1 CDR-H2 TIDSGGRTDYASWAKG  53 Ab-A and Ab-1 CDR-H3 NWNL  60 Ab-B CDR-L1 SASSSVSFVD  61 Ab-B CDR-L2 RTSNLGF  62 Ab-B CDR-L3 QQRSTYPPT  57 Ab-B CDR-H1 TSGMGVG  58 Ab-B CDR-H2 HIWWDDVKRYNPVLKS  59 Ab-B CDR-H3 EDFDYDEEYYAMDY  48 Ab-C CDR-L1 KASQSVDYDGDSYMN  49 Ab-C CDR-L2 AASNLES  50 Ab-C CDR-L3 QQSNEDPWT  45 Ab-C CDR-H1 DCYMN  46 Ab-C CDR-H2 DINPFNGGTTYNQKFKG  47 Ab-C CDR-H3 SHYYFDGRVPWDAMDY  42 Ab-D CDR-L1 QASQGTSINLN  43 Ab-D CDR-L2 GSSNLED  44 Ab-D CDR-L3 LQHSYLPYT  39 Ab-D CDR-H1 DHYMS  40 Ab-D CDR-H2 DINPYSGETTYNQKFKG  41 Ab-D CDR-H3 DDYDASPFAY 275 Ab-2 CDR-L1 RASSSVYYYMH 276 Ab-2 CDR-L2 ATSNLAS 277 Ab-2 CDR-L3 QQWSSDPLT 287 Ab-2 CDR-H1 DYFIH 288 Ab-2 CDR-H2 RLDPEDGESDYAPKFQD 289 Ab-2 CDR-H3 EDYDGTYTFFPY 278 Ab-3 and Ab-15 CDR-L1 SVSSTISSNHLH 279 Ab-3 and Ab-15 CDR-L2 GTSNLAS 280 Ab-3 and Ab-15 CDR-L3 QQWSSYPLT 290 Ab-3 and Ab-15 CDR-H1 DFYLH 291 Ab-3 and Ab-15 CDR-H2 RIDPENGDTLYDPKFQD 292 Ab-3 and Ab-15 CDR-H3 EADYFHDGTSYWYFDV  78 Ab-4 and Ab-5 CDR-L1 RASQDISNYLN  79 Ab-4 and Ab-5 CDR-L2 YTSRLLS  80 Ab-4 and Ab-5 CDR-L3 QQGDTLPYT 245 Ab-4 and Ab-5 CDR-H1 DYNMH 246 Ab-4 and Ab-5 CDR-H2 EINPNSGGAGYNQKFKG 247 Ab-4 and Ab-5 CDR-H3 LGYDDIYDDWYFDV  81 Ab-6 CDR-L1 RASQDISNYLN  99 Ab-6 CDR-L2 YTSRLHS 100 Ab-6 CDR-L3 QQGDTLPYT 248 Ab-6 CDR-H1 DYNMH 249 Ab-6 CDR-H2 EINPNSGGSGYNQKFKG 250 Ab-6 CDR-H3 LVYDGSYEDWYFDV 101 Ab-7 CDR-L1 RASQVITNYLY 102 Ab-7 CDR-L2 YTSRLHS 103 Ab-7 CDR-L3 QQGDTLPYT 251 Ab-7 CDR-H1 DYNMH 252 Ab-7 CDR-H2 EINPNSGGAGYNQQFKG 253 Ab-7 CDR-H3 LGYVGNYEDWYFDV 104 Ab-8 CDR-L1 RASQDISNYLN 105 Ab-8 CDR-L2 YTSRLLS 106 Ab-8 CDR-L3 QQGDTLPYT 254 Ab-8 CDR-H1 DYNMH 255 Ab-8 CDR-H2 EINPNSGGAGYNQKFKG 256 Ab-8 CDR-H3 LGYDDIYDDWYFDV 107 Ab-9 CDR-L1 RASQDISNYLN 108 Ab-9 CDR-L2 YTSRLFS 109 Ab-9 CDR-L3 QQGDTLPYT 257 Ab-9 CDR-H1 DYNMH 258 Ab-9 CDR-H2 EINPNSGGAGYNQKFKG 259 Ab-9 CDR-H3 LGYDDIYDDWYFDV 110 Ab-10 CDR-L1 RASQDISNYLN 111 Ab-10 CDR-L2 YTSRLLS 112 Ab-10 CDR-L3 QQGDTLPYT 260 Ab-10 CDR-H1 DYNMH 261 Ab-10 CDR-H2 EINPNSGGAGYNQKFKG 262 Ab-10 CDR-H3 LGYDDIYDDWYFDV 281 Ab-11 and Ab-16 CDR-L1 RASSSISYIH 282 Ab-11 and Ab-16 CDR-L2 ATSNLAS 283 Ab-11 and Ab-16 CDR-L3 QQWSSDPLT 293 Ab-11 and Ab-16 CDR-H1 DYYIH 294 Ab-11 and Ab-16 CDR-H2 RVDPDNGETEFAPKFPG 295 Ab-11 and Ab-16 CDR-H3 EDYDGTYTWFPY 113 Ab-12 CDR-L1 RASQDISNYLN 114 Ab-12 CDR-L2 YTSTLQS 115 Ab-12 CDR-L3 QQGDTLPYT 263 Ab-12 CDR-H1 DYNMH 264 Ab-12 CDR-H2 EINPNSGGSGYNQKFKG 265 Ab-12 CDR-H3 LGYYGNYEDWYFDV 284 Ab-13 and Ab-14 CDR-L1 RASSSVTSSYLN 285 Ab-13 and Ab-14 CDR-L2 STSNLAS 286 Ab-13 and Ab-14 CDR-L3 QQYDFFPST 296 Ab-13 and Ab-14 CDR-H1 DYYMN 297 Ab-13 and Ab-14 CDR-H2 DINPYNDDTTYNHKFKG 298 Ab-13 and Ab-14 CDR-H3 ETAVITTNAMD 116 Ab-17 and Ab-18 CDR-L1 SVSSSISSSNLH 237 Ab-17 and Ab-18 CDR-L2 GTSNLAS 238 Ab-17 and Ab-18 CDR-L3 QQWTTTYT 266 Ab-17 and Ab-18 CDR-H1 DYYIH 267 Ab-17 and Ab-18 CDR-H2 RIDPDNGESTYVPKFQG 268 Ab-17 and Ab-18 CDR-H3 EGLDYGDYYAVDY 239 Ab-19, Ab-20 and Ab-23 RASQDISSYLN CDR-L1 240 Ab-19, Ab-20 and Ab-23 STSRLNS CDR-L2 241 Ab-19, Ab-20 and Ab-23 QQDIKHPT CDR-L3 269 Ab-19, Ab-20 and Ab-23 DYIMH CDR-H1 270 Ab-19, Ab-20 and Ab-23 YINPYNDDTEYNEKFKG CDR-H2 271 Ab-19, Ab-20 and Ab-23 SIYYYDAPFAY CDR-H3 242 Ab-21 and Ab-22 CDR-L1 KASQDVFTAVA 243 Ab-21 and Ab-22 CDR-L2 WASTRHT 244 Ab-21 and Ab-22 CDR-L3 QQYSSYPLT 272 Ab-21 and Ab-22 CDR-H1 DYYMH 273 Ab-21 and Ab-22 CDR-H2 RIDPENGDIIYDPKFQG 274 Ab-21 and Ab-22 CDR-H3 DAGDPAWFTY 351 Ab-24 CDR-L1 KASQSVDYDGTSYMN 352 Ab-24 CDR-L2 AASNLES 353 Ab-24 CDR-L3 QQSNEDPFT 358 Ab-24 CDR-H1 TYWMN 359 Ab-24 CDR-H2 MIHPSASEIRLDQKFKD 360 Ab-24 CDR-H3 SGEWGSMDY

An oligopeptide or polypeptide is within the scope of the invention if it has an amino acid sequence that is at least 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to least one of the CDR's of Table 1 above; and/or to a CDR of a sclerostin binding agent that cross-blocks the binding of at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24 to sclerostin, and/or is cross-blocked from binding to sclerostin by at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24; and/or to a CDR of a sclerostin binding agent wherein the binding agent can block the inhibitory effect of sclerostin in a cell based mineralization assay (i.e. a sclerostin neutralizing binding agent); and/or to a CDR of a sclerostin binding agent that binds to a Loop 2 epitope; and/or to a CDR of a sclerostin binding agent that binds to a T20.6 epitope; and/or to a CDR of a sclerostin binding agent that binds to a “T20.6 derivative (cystine-knot+4 arms)” epitope.

Sclerostin binding agent polypeptides and antibodies are within the scope of the invention if they have amino acid sequences that are at least 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to a variable region of at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24, and cross-block the binding of at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24 to sclerostin, and/or are cross-blocked from binding to sclerostin by at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24; and/or can block the inhibitory effect of sclerostin in a cell based mineralization assay (i.e. a sclerostin neutralizing binding agent); and/or bind to a Loop 2 epitope; and/or bind to a T20.6 epitope; and/or bind to a “T20.6 derivative (cystine-knot+4 arms)” epitope.

Polynucleotides encoding sclerostin binding agents are within the scope of the invention if they have polynucleotide sequences that are at least 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to a polynucleotide encoding a variable region of at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24, and wherein the encoded sclerostin binding agents cross-block the binding of at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24 to sclerostin, and/or are cross-blocked from binding to sclerostin by at least one of antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, Ab-1, Ab-2, Ab-3, Ab-4, Ab-5, Ab-6, Ab-7, Ab-8, Ab-9, Ab-10, Ab-11, Ab-12, Ab-13, Ab-14, Ab-15, Ab-16, Ab-17, Ab-18, Ab-19, Ab-20, Ab-21, Ab-22, Ab-23, and Ab-24; and/or can block the inhibitory effect of sclerostin in a cell based mineralization assay (i.e. a sclerostin neutralizing binding agent); and/or bind to a Loop 2 epitope; and/or bind to a T20.6 epitope; and/or bind to a “T20.6 derivative (cystine-knot+4 arms)” epitope.

Antibodies according to the invention may have a binding affinity for human sclerostin of less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁷ M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁸ M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁹M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, less than or equal to 1×10⁻¹¹M, or less than or equal to 1×10⁻¹²M.

The affinity of a binding agent such as an antibody or binding partner, as well as the extent to which a binding agent (such as an antibody) inhibits binding, can be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art using conventional techniques, for example those described by Scatchard et al. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 51:660-672 (1949)) or by surface plasmon resonance (SPR; BIAcore, Biosensor, Piscataway, N.J.). For surface plasmon resonance, target molecules are immobilized on a solid phase and exposed to ligands in a mobile phase running along a flow cell. If ligand binding to the immobilized target occurs, the local refractive index changes, leading to a change in SPR angle, which can be monitored in real time by detecting changes in the intensity of the reflected light. The rates of change of the SPR signal can be analyzed to yield apparent rate constants for the association and dissociation phases of the binding reaction. The ratio of these values gives the apparent equilibrium constant (affinity) (see, e.g., Wolff et al., Cancer Res. 53:2560-65 (1993)).

An antibody according to the present invention may belong to any immunoglobin class, for example IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, or IgA. It may be obtained from or derived from an animal, for example, fowl (e.g., chicken) and mammals, which includes but is not limited to a mouse, rat, hamster, rabbit, or other rodent, cow, horse, sheep, goat, camel, human, or other primate. The antibody may be an internalizing antibody. Production of antibodies is disclosed generally in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0146888 A1.

Characterization Assays

In the methods described above to generate antibodies according to the invention, including the manipulation of the specific Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D, and Antibody 1-24 (Ab-1 to Ab-24) CDRs into new frameworks and/or constant regions, appropriate assays are available to select the desired antibodies or binding agents (i.e. assays for determining binding affinity to sclerostin; cross-blocking assays; Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay;” MC3T3-E1 cell based assay; in vivo assays).

Epitope Binding Assays

Mature form human sclerostin is a 190 amino acid glycoprotein with a cystine-knot structure (FIGS. 8 and 9). In addition to the cystine-knot structure, the protein is characterized as having three loops designated as Loop 1, Loop 2 and Loop 3. Human sclerostin was subjected to proteolytic digestion to produce fragments. Briefly, using different proteases, including trypsin, aspN, and lysC, fragments with various cleavage sites and sizes were generated. The sequences and mass for various human sclerostin peptides were determined. Antibody protection was evaluated to determine the effect on accessibility for proteolysis, including clipped site masking and peptide shifting. Finally, a BIAcore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition assay” was performed.

Exposure of sclerostin to trypsin cleavage resulted in a pattern of peptide fragments as summarized in FIG. 13. The fragments are referred to as T19.2, T20, T20.6, and T21-22. As shown schematically in FIG. 19B, the T20.6 epitope is a complex of four separate peptide sequences which are joined by the three disulfide bonds of the cystine-knot region. Two of the peptides are joined by two disulfide bonds. The other two peptides are linked by one disulfide bond that, schematically, bisects the first two polypeptides.

The T20.6 epitope that was generated by trypsin digestion retains the cystine-knot structure of the native polypeptide and is recognized by antibodies Ab-C and Ab-D. A derivative of epitope T20.6 consists of the cystine-knot region and amino acids 58-64, 73-81, 112-117 and 138-141 in sequence position with reference to SEQ ID NO:1. This derivative epitope is shown in FIG. 21. An epitope comprising the cystine-knot region may have one or more amino acids that is present in the T20.6 epitope (FIG. 19B) but not present in the T20.6 derivative epitope (FIG. 21).

Another epitope-containing region was identified in the Loop 2 region of human sclerostin (FIG. 19A) and is recognized by antibodies Ab-A and Ab-B. A Loop 2 epitope comprises amino acids 86-111 of SEQ ID NO:1 (C4 GPARLLPNAIGRGKWWRPSGPDFRC5, SEQ ID NO:6). Sterically, with reference to full-length sclerostin of SEQ ID NO:1, the Loop 2-containing structure is defined at one end by a disulfide bond between cysteine at position 86 (C4) and cysteine at position 144 (C8), and at the other end by a disulfide bond between cysteine at position 111 (C5) and cysteine at position 57 (C1).

The peptides generated by aspN cleavage of human sclerostin are shown in FIG. 12. In the Figure, these peptides are designated as AspN14.6, AspN18.6, and AspN22.7-23.5, and are also referred to herein as N14.6, N18.6, and N22.7-23.5, respectively.

One group of antibodies exhibits a specific pattern of binding to certain epitopes as evidenced by a Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay.” Briefly, the antibody is preincubated with the epitope to be tested, at concentrations that will saturate the epitope-binding sites on the antibody. The antibody is then exposed to sclerostin bound to a chip surface. After the appropriate incubation and washing procedures, a pattern of competitive binding is established. As shown in FIG. 18, exemplary antibody Ab-D bound to sclerostin molecules attached to the surface of the chip. Preincubation of antibody Ab-D with sclerostin decreased the binding of the antibody to the sclerostin on the chip to close to zero. Preincubation with a peptide consisting of epitope T19.2 showed that T19.2 did not compete with sclerostin for antibody binding. However, preincubation with any one of the epitopes designated T20, T20.6, T21-22, or N22.7-23.5 abolished a large proportion of the binding of antibody to sclerostin on the chip. In contrast, preincubation of the antibody with any one of the epitopes designated T19.2, N14.6 or N18.6 did not abolish the ability of the antibody to bind to sclerostin. A second exemplary antibody with this binding profile (FIG. 17) is Ab-C.

Antibody Ab-D therefore is exemplary and representative of a group of antibodies that bind to the epitopes T20, T20.6, T21-22, and N22.7-23.5, and have minimal detectable binding to epitopes T19.2, N14.6 and N18.6, as measured by the ability to block antibody binding to sclerostin. Antibodies having this characteristic binding pattern may or may not share amino acid sequence in one or more regions of the antibody molecule. Antibody similarity is determined functionally such as by the ability to bind to sclerostin following preincubation with each of the epitopes described above. Antibodies that exhibit a binding pattern similar or identical to that of antibody Ab-D are included in the invention. By “similar to” is meant, for example, the antibody will exhibit binding to each of the polypeptides T20, T20.6, T21-22 and N22.7-23.5 whereby this binding will specifically compete out at least 50% of the antibody's binding to sclerostin that would otherwise occur in the absence of preincubation with sclerostin or a sclerostin peptide. The antibody will also exhibit little or no detectable binding to polypeptides T19.2, N14.6 and N18.6, resulting in a reduction of 30% or less of the binding that would occur in the absence of preincubation with sclerostin or a sclerostin peptide.

For example, without being bound by a particular mechanism, the antibody binding pattern of FIG. 18 suggests that the epitope space to which antibody Ab-D and other antibodies having the epitope binding pattern of Ab-D bind consists of a polypeptide comprising the cystine-knot region of sclerostin.

Thus, as disclosed herein and with reference to FIG. 19B, an exemplary T20.6 epitope comprises four peptide chains attached via three separate disulfide bonds. Peptide chain SAKPVTELVC3SGQC4 GPAR (SEQ ID NO:3) is attached to peptide chain LVASC7KC8KRLTR (SEQ ID NO:5) by disulfide bonds from C3 to C7, and from C4 to C8. Peptide chain DVSEYSC1RELHFTR (SEQ ID NO:2) is attached to peptide chain WWRPSGPDFRC5IPDRYR (SEQ ID NO:4) by a disulfide bond from C1 to C5. The polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:3 and 5 remain associated with the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:2 and 4 through a steric construct whereby the C1-C5 bond crosses the plane of the C4-C8 and C3-C7 bonds and is located between them, as illustrated in FIG. 19B.

As disclosed herein and with reference to FIG. 21, an exemplary derivative epitope of T20.6 comprises four peptide chains attached via three separate disulfide bonds. Peptide chain SAKPVTELVC3SGQC4 (SEQ ID NO:70) is attached to peptide chain LVASC7KC8 (SEQ ID NO:71) by disulfide bonds from C3 to C7, and from C4 to C8. Peptide chain C1RELHFTR (SEQ ID NO:72) is attached to peptide chain C51PDRYR (SEQ ID NO:73) by a disulfide bond from C1 to C5. The polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:70 and 71 remain associated with the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:72 and 73 through a steric construct whereby the C1-C5 bond crosses the plane of the C4-C8 and C3-C7 bonds and is located between them, as illustrated in FIG. 21.

Antibody Ab-A is exemplary and representative of a second group of antibodies that have a characteristic binding pattern to human sclerostin peptides that is distinct from that obtained for antibodies Ab-C and Ab-D. Ab-A and the group of antibodies it represents bind to the N22.7-23.5 epitope and have minimal detectable binding to epitopes T19.2, T20, T20.6, T21-22, N14.6 or N18.6, as measured by the ability to block antibody binding to sclerostin (FIG. 15). A second exemplary antibody with this binding profile (FIG. 16) is Ab-B. Antibodies having this characteristic binding pattern may or may not share amino acid sequence in one or more regions of the antibody molecule. Antibody similarity is determined functionally such as by the ability to bind to sclerostin following preincubation with each of the epitopes described above. Antibodies that exhibit a binding pattern similar or identical to that of antibody Ab-A are included in the invention. By “similar to” is meant, for example, the antibody will exhibit binding to the N22.7-23.5 polypeptide whereby this binding will specifically compete out at least 50% of the antibody's binding to sclerostin that would otherwise occur in the absence of preincubation with sclerostin or a sclerostin peptide. The antibody will also exhibit little or no detectable binding to polypeptides T19.2, T20, T20.6, T21-22, N14.6 and N18.6, resulting in a reduction of 30% or less of the binding that would occur in the absence of preincubation with sclerostin or a sclerostin peptide.

For example, without being bound by a particular mechanism, the antibody binding pattern of FIG. 15 suggests that the epitope space to which antibody Ab-A and other antibodies having the epitope binding pattern of Ab-A bind consists of a polypeptide comprising the Loop 2 region of sclerostin. Thus, as disclosed herein and with reference to FIG. 19A, the Loop 2 region can be described as a linear peptide, but it acquires a tertiary structure when it is present in native sclerostin or a cystine-knot-containing portion of sclerostin in which the native disulfide bond structure is maintained. The linear or tertiary structure of the Loop 2 epitope can affect antibody binding thereto, as discussed in the Examples. A Loop 2 region can comprise the following amino acid sequence: C4 GPARLLPNAIGRGKWWRPSGPDFRC5 (SEQ ID NO:6). “C4” refers to a cysteine residue located at position 86 with reference to SEQ ID NO:1. “C5” refers to a cysteine residue located at position 111 with reference to SEQ ID NO:1. In native sclerostin protein, C4 is linked to a cysteine at position 144 (C8) by a disulfide bond, and C5 is linked to a cysteine at position 57 (C1) by a disulfide bond. Epitopes derived from the Loop 2 region include CGPARLLPNAIGRGKWWRPS (SEQ ID NO:63); GPARLLPNAIGRGKWWRPSG (SEQ ID NO:64); PARLLPNAIGRGKWWRPSGP (SEQ ID NO:65); ARLLPNAIGRGKWWRPSGPD (SEQ ID NO:66); RLLPNAIGRGKWWRPSGPDF (SEQ ID NO:67); LLPNAIGRGKWWRPSGPDFR (SEQ ID NO:68); and LPNAIGRGKWWRPSGPDFRC (SEQ ID NO:69)

CROSS-BLOCKING ASSAYS

The terms “cross-block”, “cross-blocked” and “cross-blocking” are used interchangeably herein to mean the ability of an antibody or other binding agent to interfere with the binding of other antibodies or binding agents to sclerostin.

The extent to which an antibody or other binding agent is able to interfere with the binding of another to sclerostin, and therefore whether it can be said to cross-block according to the invention, can be determined using competition binding assays. One particularly suitable quantitative assay uses a Biacore machine which can measure the extent of interactions using surface plasmon resonance technology. Another suitable quantitative cross-blocking assay uses an ELISA-based approach to measure competition between antibodies or other binding agents in terms of their binding to sclerostin.

Biacore Cross-Blocking Assay

The following generally describes a suitable Biacore assay for determining whether an antibody or other binding agent cross-blocks or is capable of cross-blocking according to the invention. For convenience reference is made to two antibodies, but it will be appreciated that the assay can be used with any of the sclerostin binding agents described herein. The Biacore machine (for example the Biacore 3000) is operated in line with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Thus in one cross-blocking assay, sclerostin is coupled to a CM5 Biacore chip using standard amine coupling chemistry to generate a sclerostin-coated surface. Typically 200-800 resonance units of sclerostin would be coupled to the chip (an amount that gives easily measurable levels of binding but that is readily saturable by the concentrations of test reagent being used).

The two antibodies (termed A* and B*) to be assessed for their ability to cross-block each other are mixed at a one to one molar ratio of binding sites in a suitable buffer to create the test mixture. When calculating the concentrations on a binding site basis the molecular weight of an antibody is assumed to be the total molecular weight of the antibody divided by the number of sclerostin binding sites on that antibody.

The concentration of each antibody in the test mix should be high enough to readily saturate the binding sites for that antibody on the sclerostin molecules captured on the Biacore chip. The antibodies in the mixture are at the same molar concentration (on a binding basis) and that concentration would typically be between 1.00 and 1.5 micromolar (on a binding site basis).

Separate solutions containing antibody A* alone and antibody B* alone are also prepared. Antibody A* and antibody B* in these solutions should be in the same buffer and at the same concentration as in the test mix.

The test mixture is passed over the sclerostin-coated Biacore chip and the total amount of binding recorded. The chip is then treated in such a way as to remove the bound antibodies without damaging the chip-bound sclerostin. Typically this is done by treating the chip with 30 mM HCl for 60 seconds.

The solution of antibody A* alone is then passed over the sclerostin-coated surface and the amount of binding recorded. The chip is again treated to remove all of the bound antibody without damaging the chip-bound sclerostin.

The solution of antibody B* alone is then passed over the sclerostin-coated surface and the amount of binding recorded.

The maximum theoretical binding of the mixture of antibody A* and antibody B* is next calculated, and is the sum of the binding of each antibody when passed over the sclerostin surface alone. If the actual recorded binding of the mixture is less than this theoretical maximum then the two antibodies are cross-blocking each other.

Thus, in general, a cross-blocking antibody or other binding agent according to the invention is one which will bind to sclerostin in the above Biacore cross-blocking assay such that during the assay and in the presence of a second antibody or other binding agent of the invention the recorded binding is between 80% and 0.1% (e.g. 80% to 4%) of the maximum theoretical binding, specifically between 75% and 0.1% (e.g. 75% to 4%) of the maximum theoretical binding, and more specifically between 70% and 0.1% (e.g. 70% to 4%) of maximum theoretical binding (as just defined above) of the two antibodies or binding agents in combination.

The Biacore assay described above is a primary assay used to determine if antibodies or other binding agents cross-block each other according to the invention. On rare occasions particular antibodies or other binding agents may not bind to sclerostin coupled via amine chemistry to a CM5 Biacore chip (this usually occurs when the relevant binding site on sclerostin is masked or destroyed by the coupling to the chip). In such cases cross-blocking can be determined using a tagged version of Sclerostin, for example N-terminal His-tagged Sclerostin (R & D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., USA; 2005 cat#1406-ST-025). In this particular format, an anti-His antibody would be coupled to the Biacore chip and then the His-tagged Sclerostin would be passed over the surface of the chip and captured by the anti-His antibody. The cross blocking analysis would be carried out essentially as described above, except that after each chip regeneration cycle, new His-tagged sclerostin would be loaded back onto the anti-His antibody coated surface. In addition to the example given using N-terminal His-tagged Sclerostin, C-terminal His-tagged sclerostin could alternatively be used. Furthermore, various other tags and tag binding protein combinations that are known in the art could be used for such a cross-blocking analysis (e.g. HA tag with anti-HA antibodies; FLAG tag with anti-FLAG antibodies; biotin tag with streptavidin).

ELISA-Based Cross-Blocking Assay

The following generally describes an ELISA assay for determining whether an anti-sclerostin antibody or other sclerostin binding agent cross-blocks or is capable of cross-blocking according to the invention. For convenience, reference is made to two antibodies (Ab-X and Ab-Y), but it will be appreciated that the assay can be used with any of the sclerostin binding agents described herein.

The general principal of the assay is to have an anti-sclerostin antibody coated onto the wells of an ELISA plate. An excess amount of a second, potentially cross-blocking, anti-sclerostin antibody is added in solution (i.e. not bound to the ELISA plate). A limited amount of sclerostin is then added to the wells. The coated antibody and the antibody in solution compete for binding of the limited number of sclerostin molecules. The plate is washed to remove sclerostin that has not been bound by the coated antibody and to also remove the second, solution phase antibody as well as any complexes formed between the second, solution phase antibody and sclerostin. The amount of bound sclerostin is then measured using an appropriate sclerostin detection reagent. An antibody in solution that is able to cross-block the coated antibody will be able to cause a decrease in the number of sclerostin molecules that the coated antibody can bind relative to the number of sclerostin molecules that the coated antibody can bind in the absence of the second, solution phase, antibody.

This assay is described in more detail further below for Ab-X and Ab-Y. In the instance where Ab-X is chosen to be the immobilized antibody, it is coated onto the wells of the ELISA plate, after which the plates are blocked with a suitable blocking solution to minimize non-specific binding of reagents that are subsequently added. An excess amount of Ab-Y is then added to the ELISA plate such that the moles of Ab-Y sclerostin binding sites per well are at least 10 fold higher than the moles of Ab-X sclerostin binding sites that were used, per well, during the coating of the ELISA plate. Sclerostin is then added such that the moles of sclerostin added per well are at least 25-fold lower than the moles of Ab-X sclerostin binding sites that were used for coating each well. Following a suitable incubation period the ELISA plate is washed and a sclerostin detection reagent is added to measure the amount of sclerostin specifically bound by the coated anti-sclerostin antibody (in this case Ab-X). The background signal for the assay is defined as the signal obtained in wells with the coated antibody (in this case Ab-X), second solution phase antibody (in this case Ab-Y), sclerostin buffer only (i.e. no sclerostin) and sclerostin detection reagents. The positive control signal for the assay is defined as the signal obtained in wells with the coated antibody (in this case Ab-X), second solution phase antibody buffer only (i.e. no second solution phase antibody), sclerostin and sclerostin detection reagents. The ELISA assay needs to be run in such a manner so as to have the positive control signal be at least 6 times the background signal.

To avoid any artifacts (e.g. significantly different affinities between Ab-X and Ab-Y for sclerostin) resulting from the choice of which antibody to use as the coating antibody and which to use as the second (competitor) antibody, the cross-blocking assay needs to be run in two formats:

-   -   1) format 1 is where Ab-X is the antibody that is coated onto         the ELISA plate and Ab-Y is the competitor antibody that is in         solution and     -   2) format 2 is where Ab-Y is the antibody that is coated onto         the ELISA plate and Ab-X is the competitor antibody that is in         solution.

Ab-X and Ab-Y are defined as cross-blocking if, either in format 1 or in format 2, the solution phase anti-sclerostin antibody is able to cause a reduction of between 60% and 100%, specifically between 70% and 100%, and more specifically between 80% and 100%, of the sclerostin detection signal (i.e. the amount of sclerostin bound by the coated antibody) as compared to the sclerostin detection signal obtained in the absence of the solution phase anti-sclerostin antibody (i.e. the positive control wells).

An example of such an ELISA-based cross blocking assay can be found in Example 7 (“ELISA-based cross-blocking assay”).

Cell Based Neutralization Assay

Mineralization by osteoblast-lineage cells in culture, either primary cells or cell lines, is used as an in vitro model of bone formation. Mineralization takes from about one to six weeks to occur beginning with the induction of osteoblast-lineage cell differentiation by one or more differentiation agents. The overall sequence of events involves cell proliferation, differentiation, extracellular matrix production, matrix maturation and finally deposition of mineral, which refers to crystallization and/or deposition of calcium phosphate. This sequence of events starting with cell proliferation and differentiation, and ending with deposition of mineral is referred to herein as mineralization. Measurement of calcium (mineral) is the output of the assay.

MC3T3-E1 cells (Sudo H, Kodama H-A, Amagai Y, Yamamoto S, Kasai S. 1983. In vitro differentiation and calcification in a new clonal osteogenic cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria. J. Cell Biol. 96:191-198) and subclones of the original cell line can form mineral in culture upon growth in the presence of differentiating agents. Such subclones include MC3T3-E1-BF (Smith E, Redman R, Logg C, Coetzee G, Kasahara N, Frenkel B. 2000. Glucocorticoids inhibit developmental stage-specific osteoblast cell cycle. J. Biol. Chem. 275:19992-20001). For both the MC3T3-E1-BF subclone as well as the original MC3T3-E1 cells, sclerostin can inhibit one or more of the sequence of events leading up to and including mineral deposition (i.e. sclerostin inhibits mineralization). Anti-sclerostin antibodies that are able to neutralize sclerostin's inhibitory activity allow for mineralization of the culture in the presence of sclerostin such that there is a statistically significant increase in deposition of calcium phosphate (measured as calcium) as compared to the amount of calcium measured in the sclerostin-only (i.e. no antibody) treatment group. The antibodies used in the cell based mineralization assay experiments shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 have molecular weights of about 145 Kd and have 2 sclerostin binding sites per antibody molecule.

When running the assay with the goal of determining whether a particular anti-sclerostin antibody or anti-sclerostin binding agent can neutralize sclerostin (i.e., is a sclerostin neutralizing antibody or derivative thereof, or is a sclerostin neutralizing binding agent), the amount of sclerostin used in the assay needs to be the minimum amount of sclerostin that causes at least a 70%, statistically significant, reduction in deposition of calcium phosphate (measured as calcium) in the sclerostin-only group, as compared to the amount of calcium measured in the no sclerostin group. An anti-sclerostin neutralizing antibody or an anti-sclerostin neutralizing binding agent is defined as one that causes a statistically significant increase in deposition of calcium phosphate (measured as calcium) as compared to the amount of calcium measured in the sclerostin-only (i.e. no antibody, no binding agent) treatment group. To determine whether an anti-sclerostin antibody or an anti-sclerostin binding agent is neutralizing or not, the amount of anti-sclerostin antibody or anti-sclerostin binding agent used in the assay needs to be such that there is an excess of moles of sclerostin binding sites per well as compared to the number of moles of sclerostin per well. Depending on the potency of the antibody, the fold excess that may be required can be 24, 18, 12, 6, 3, or 1.5, and one of skill is familiar with the routine practice of testing more than one concentration of binding agent. For example, a very potent anti-sclerostin neutralizing antibody or anti-sclerostin neutralizing binding agent will be able to neutralize sclerostin even when there is less than a 6-fold excess of moles of sclerostin binding sites per well as compared to the number of moles of sclerostin per well. A less potent anti-sclerostin neutralizing antibody or anti-sclerostin neutralizing binding agent will be able to neutralize sclerostin only at a 12, 18 or 24 fold excess. Sclerostin binding agents within this full range of potencies are suitable as neutralizing sclerostin binding agents. Exemplary cell based mineralization assays are described in detail in Example 8.

Anti-sclerostin antibodies and derivatives thereof that can neutralize human sclerostin, and sclerostin binding agents that can neutralize human sclerostin may be of use in the treatment of human conditions/disorders that are caused by, associated with, or result in at least one of low bone formation, low bone mineral density, low bone mineral content, low bone mass, low bone quality and low bone strength.

In Vivo Neutralization Assay

Increases in various parameters associated with, or that result from, the stimulation of new bone formation can be measured as an output from in vivo testing of sclerostin binding agents in order to identify those binding agents that are able to neutralize sclerostin and thus able to cause stimulation of new bone formation. Such parameters include various serum anabolic markers [e.g. osteocalcin, P1NP (n-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen)], histomorphometric markers of bone formation (e.g. osteoblast surface/bone surface; bone formation rate/bone surface; trabecular thickness), bone mineral density, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone quality and bone strength. A sclerostin neutralizing binding agent is defined as one capable of causing a statistically significant increase, as compared to vehicle treated animals, in any parameter associated with, or that results from, the stimulation of new bone formation. Such in vivo testing can be performed in any suitable mammal (e.g. mouse, rat, monkey). An example of such in vivo testing can be found in Example 5 (“In vivo testing of anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibodies”).

Although the amino acid sequence of sclerostin is not 100% identical across mammalian species (e.g. mouse sclerostin is not 100% identical to human sclerostin), it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that a sclerostin binding agent that can neutralize, in vivo, the sclerostin of a certain species (e.g. mouse) and that also can bind human sclerostin in vitro is very likely to be able to neutralize human sclerostin in vivo. Thus, such a human sclerostin binding agent (e.g. anti-human sclerostin antibody) may be of use in the treatment of human conditions/disorders that are caused by, associated with, or result in at least one of low bone formation, low bone mineral density, low bone mineral content, low bone mass, low bone quality and low bone strength. Mice in which homologous recombination had been used to delete the mouse sclerostin gene and insert the human sclerostin gene in its place (i.e. human sclerostin gene knock-in mice or human SOST knock-in mice) would be an example of an additional in vivo system.

Pharmaceutical compositions are provided, comprising one of the above-described binding agents such as at least one of antibody Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C, Ab-D and Ab-1 to Ab-24 to human sclerostin, along with a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 10/868,497, filed Jun. 16, 2004, which claims priority to Ser. No. 60/478,977, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

The development of suitable dosing and treatment regimens for using the particular compositions described herein in a variety of treatment regimens, including e.g., subcutaneous, oral, parenteral, intravenous, intranasal, and intramuscular administration and formulation, is well known in the art, some of which are briefly discussed below for general purposes of illustration.

In certain applications, the pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein may be delivered via oral administration to an animal. As such, these compositions may be formulated with an inert diluent or with an assimilable edible carrier, or they may be enclosed in hard- or soft-shell gelatin capsule, or they may be compressed into tablets, or they may be incorporated directly with the food of the diet.

In certain circumstances it will be desirable to deliver the pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein subcutaneously, parenterally, intravenously, intramuscularly, or even intraperitoneally. Such approaches are well known to the skilled artisan, some of which are further described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,158; U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,515 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,363. In certain embodiments, solutions of the active compounds as free base or pharmacologically acceptable salts may be prepared in water suitably mixed with a surfactant, such as hydroxypropylcellulose. Dispersions may also be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations generally will contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

Illustrative pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,468). In all cases the form must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and/or vegetable oils. Proper fluidity may be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and/or by the use of surfactants. The prevention of the action of microorganisms can be facilitated by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by the use in the compositions of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

In one embodiment, for parenteral administration in an aqueous solution, the solution should be suitably buffered if necessary and the liquid diluent first rendered isotonic with sufficient saline or glucose. These particular aqueous solutions are especially suitable for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal administration. In this connection, a sterile aqueous medium that can be employed will be known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. For example, one dosage may be dissolved in 1 ml of isotonic NaCl solution and either added to 1000 ml of hypodermoclysis fluid or injected at the proposed site of infusion, (see for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15th ed., pp. 1035-1038 and 1570-1580). Some variation in dosage will necessarily occur depending on the condition of the subject being treated. Moreover, for human administration, preparations will of course preferably meet sterility, pyrogenicity, and the general safety and purity standards as required by FDA Office of Biologics standards.

In another embodiment of the invention, the compositions disclosed herein may be formulated in a neutral or salt form. Illustrative pharmaceutically-acceptable salts include the acid addition salts (formed with the free amino groups of the protein) and which are formed with inorganic acids such as, for example, hydrochloric or phosphoric acids, or such organic acids as acetic, oxalic, tartaric, mandelic, and the like. Salts formed with the free carboxyl groups can also be derived from inorganic bases such as, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, or ferric hydroxides, and such organic bases as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, histidine, procaine and the like. Upon formulation, solutions will be administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation and in such amount as is therapeutically effective.

The carriers can further comprise any and all solvents, dispersion media, vehicles, coatings, diluents, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, buffers, carrier solutions, suspensions, colloids, and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active ingredient, its use in the therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients can also be incorporated into the compositions. The phrase “pharmaceutically-acceptable” refers to molecular entities and compositions that do not produce an allergic or similar untoward reaction when administered to a human.

In certain embodiments, liposomes, nanocapsules, microparticles, lipid particles, vesicles, and the like, are used for the introduction of the compositions of the present invention into suitable host cells/organisms. In particular, the compositions of the present invention may be formulated for delivery either encapsulated in a lipid particle, a liposome, a vesicle, a nanosphere, or a nanoparticle or the like. Alternatively, compositions of the present invention can be bound, either covalently or non-covalently, to the surface of such carrier vehicles.

The formation and use of liposome and liposome-like preparations as potential drug carriers is generally known to those of skill in the art (see for example, Lasic, Trends Biotechnol. 16(7):307-21, 1998; Takakura, Nippon Rinsho 56(3):691-95, 1998; Chandran et al., Indian J. Exp. Biol. 35(8):801-09, 1997; Margalit, Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carrier Syst. 12(2-3):233-61, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,434; U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,157; U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,213; U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,868 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,587, each specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The use of liposomes does not appear to be associated with autoimmune responses or unacceptable toxicity after systemic delivery. In certain embodiments, liposomes are formed from phospholipids that are dispersed in an aqueous medium and spontaneously form multilamellar concentric bilayer vesicles (also termed multilamellar vesicles (MLVs)).

Alternatively, in other embodiments, the invention provides for pharmaceutically-acceptable nanocapsule formulations of the compositions of the present invention. Nanocapsules can generally entrap compounds in a stable and reproducible way (see, for example, Quintanar-Guerrero et al., Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 24(12):1113-28, 1998). To avoid side effects due to intracellular polymeric overloading, such ultrafine particles (sized around 0.1 μm) may be designed using polymers able to be degraded in vivo. Such particles can be made as described, for example, by Couvreur et al., Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carrier Syst. 5(1):1-20, 1988; zur Muhlen et al., Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 45(2):149-55, 1998; Zambaux et al., J. Controlled Release 50(1-3):31-40, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,684.

In addition, pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be placed within containers, along with packaging material that provides instructions regarding the use of such pharmaceutical compositions. Generally, such instructions will include a tangible expression describing the reagent concentration, as well as within certain embodiments, relative amounts of excipient ingredients or diluents (e.g., water, saline or PBS) that may be necessary to reconstitute the pharmaceutical composition.

The dose administered may range from 0.01 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of body weight. As will be evident to one of skill in the art, the amount and frequency of administration will depend, of course, on such factors as the nature and severity of the indication being treated, the desired response, the condition of the patient, and so forth. Typically, the compositions may be administered by a variety of techniques, as noted above.

Increases in bone mineral content and/or bone mineral density may be determined directly through the use of X-rays (e.g., Dual Energy X-ray Absorptometry or “DEXA”), or by inference through the measurement of 1) markers of bone formation and/or osteoblast activity, such as, but not limited to, osteoblast specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, type 1 procollagen C′ propeptide (PICP), total alkaline phosphatase (see Cornier, Curr. Opin. in Rheu. 7:243 (1995)) and serum procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and/or 2) markers of bone resorption and/or osteoclast activity including, but not limited to, pyridinoline, deoxypryridinoline, N-telopeptide, urinary hydroxyproline, plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatases, and galactosyl hydroxylysine; (see Comier, id), serum TRAP 5b (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b) and serum cross-linked C-telopeptide (sCTXI). The amount of bone mass may also be calculated from body weights or by using other methods (see Guinness-Hey, Metab. Bone Dis. Relat. Res. 5:177-181, 1984). Animals and particular animal models are used in the art for testing the effect of the compositions and methods of the invention on, for example, parameters of bone loss, bone resorption, bone formation, bone strength or bone mineralization that mimic conditions of human disease such as osteoporosis and osteopenias. Examples of such models include the ovariectomized rat model (Kalu, D. N., The ovariectomized rat model of postmenopausal bone loss. Bone and Mineral 15:175-192 (1991); Frost, H. M. and Jee, W. S. S. On the rat model of human osteopenias and osteoporosis. Bone and Mineral 18:227-236 (1992); and Jee, W. S. S, and Yao, W., Overview: animal models of osteopenia and osteoporosis. J. Musculoskel. Neuron. Interact. 1:193-207 (2001)).

Particular conditions which may be treated by the compositions of the present invention include dysplasias, wherein growth or development of bone is abnormal and a wide variety of causes of osteopenia, osteoporosis and bone loss. Representative examples of such conditions include achondroplasia, cleidocranial dysostosis, enchondromatosis, fibrous dysplasia, Gaucher's Disease, hypophosphatemic rickets, Marfan's syndrome, multiple hereditary exotoses, neurofibromatosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteopetrosis, osteopoikilosis, sclerotic lesions, pseudoarthrosis, and pyogenic osteomyelitis, periodontal disease, anti-epileptic drug induced bone loss, primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, familial hyperparathyroidism syndromes, weightlessness induced bone loss, osteoporosis in men, postmenopausal bone loss, osteoarthritis, renal osteodystrophy, infiltrative disorders of bone, oral bone loss, osteonecrosis of the jaw, juvenile Paget's disease, melorheostosis, metabolic bone diseases, mastocytosis, sickle cell anemia/disease, organ transplant related bone loss, kidney transplant related bone loss, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, epilepsy, juvenile arthritides, thalassemia, mucopolysaccharidoses, fabry disease, turner syndrome, Down Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, leprosy, Perthes' Disease, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, infantile onset multi-system inflammatory disease, Winchester Syndrome, Menkes Disease, Wilson's Disease, ischemic bone disease (such as Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, regional migratory osteoporosis), anemic states, conditions caused by steroids, glucocorticoid-induced bone loss, heparin-induced bone loss, bone marrow disorders, scurvy, malnutrition, calcium deficiency, idiopathic osteopenia or osteoporosis, congenital osteopenia or osteoporosis, alcoholism, chronic liver disease, postmenopausal state, chronic inflammatory conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory colitis, Crohn's disease, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, thyroid disorders, parathyroid disorders, Cushing's disease, acromegaly, hypogonadism, immobilization or disuse, reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, regional osteoporosis, osteomalacia, bone loss associated with joint replacement, HIV associated bone loss, bone loss associated with loss of growth hormone, bone loss associated with cystic fibrosis, fibrous dysplasia, chemotherapy associated bone loss, tumor induced bone loss, cancer-related bone loss, hormone ablative bone loss, multiple myeloma, drug-induced bone loss, anorexia nervosa, disease associated facial bone loss, disease associated cranial bone loss, disease associated bone loss of the jaw, disease associated bone loss of the skull, and bone loss associated with space travel. Further conditions relate to bone loss associated with aging, including facial bone loss associated with aging, cranial bone loss associated with aging, jaw bone loss associated with aging, and skull bone loss associated with aging.

Compositions of the present invention may also be useful for improving outcomes in orthopedic procedures, dental procedures, implant surgery, joint replacement, bone grafting, bone cosmetic surgery and bone repair such as fracture healing, nonunion healing, delayed union healing and facial reconstruction. One or more compositions may be administered before, during and/or after the procedure, replacement, graft, surgery or repair.

The invention also provides a diagnostic kit comprising at least one anti-sclerostin binding agent according to the present invention. The binding agent may be an antibody. In addition, such a kit may optionally comprise one or more of the following:

-   -   (1) instructions for using the one or more binding agent(s) for         screening, diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic monitoring or any         combination of these applications;     -   (2) a labeled binding partner to the anti-sclerostin binding         agent(s);     -   (3) a solid phase (such as a reagent strip) upon which the         anti-sclerostin binding agent(s) is immobilized; and     -   (4) a label or insert indicating regulatory approval for         screening, diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic use or any         combination thereof.         If no labeled binding partner to the binding agent(s) is         provided, the binding agent(s) itself can be labeled with one or         more of a detectable marker(s), e.g. a chemiluminescent,         enzymatic, fluorescent, or radioactive moiety.

The following examples are offered by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Recombinant Expression of Sclerostin

Recombinant human sclerostin/SOST is commercially available from R&D

Systems (Minneapolis, Minn., USA; 2006 cat#1406-ST-025). Additionally, recombinant mouse sclerostin/SOST is commercially available from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn., USA; 2006 cat#1589-ST-025).

Alternatively, the different species of sclerostin can be expressed transiently in serum-free suspension adapted 293T or 293EBNA cells. Transfections can be performed as 500 mL or 1L cultures. The following reagents and materials are available from Gibco BRL (now Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Catalog numbers are listed in parentheses: serum-free DMEM (21068-028); DMEM/F12 (3:1) (21068/11765); 1X Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium Supplement (51500-056); 1X Pen Strep Glut (10378-016); 2 mM 1-Glutamine (25030-081); 20 mM HEPES (15630-080); 0.01% Pluronic F68 (24040-032). Briefly, the cell inoculum (5.0-10.0×10⁵ cells/mL×culture volume) is centrifuged at 2,500 RPM for 10 minutes at 4° C. to remove the conditioned medium.

The cells are resuspended in serum-free DMEM and centrifuged again at 2,500 RPM for 10 minutes at 4° C. After aspirating the wash solution, the cells are resuspended in growth medium [DMEM/F12 (3:1)+1X Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium Supplement+1X Pen Strep Glut+2 mM L-Glutamine+20 mM HEPES+0.01% Pluronic F68] in a 1L or 3L spinner flask culture. The spinner flask culture is maintained on magnetic stir plate at 125 RPM which is placed in a humidified incubator maintained at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. The mammalian expression plasmid DNA (e.g. pcDNA3.1, pCEP4, Invitrogen Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.), containing the complete coding region (and stop codon) of sclerostin with a Kozak consensus sequence (e.g., CCACC) directly 5′ of the start site ATG, is complexed to the transfection reagent in a 50 mL conical tube.

The DNA-transfection reagent complex can be prepared in 5-10% of the final culture volume in serum-free DMEM or OPTI-MEM. The transfection reagents that can be used for this purpose include X-tremeGene RO-1539 (Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, Ind.), FuGene6 (Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, Ind.), Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) and 293fectin (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). 1-5 μg plasmid DNA/mL culture is first added to serum-free DMEM, followed by 1-5 μl transfection reagent/mL culture. The complexes can be incubated at room temperature for approximately 10-30 minutes and then added to the cells in the spinner flask. The transfection/expression can be performed for 4-7 days, after which the conditioned medium (CM) is harvested by centrifugation at 4,000 RPM for 60 minutes at 4° C.

Example 2 Purification of Recombinant Sclerostin

Recombinant sclerostin was purified from mammalian host cells as follows. All purification processes were carried out at room temperature. One purification scheme was used to purify various species of sclerostin, including murine and human sclerostin. The purification scheme used affinity chromatography followed by cation exchange chromatography.

Heparin Chromatography

The mammalian host cell conditioned medium (CM) was centrifuged in a Beckman J6-M1 centrifuge at 4000 rpm for 1 hour at 4° C. to remove cell debris. The CM supernatant was then filtered through a sterile 0.2 μm filter. (At this point the sterile filtered CM may be optionally stored frozen until purification.) If the CM was frozen, it was thawed at the following temperatures, or combination thereof: 4° C., room temperature or warm water. Following thawing the CM was filtered through a sterile 0.2 μm filter and optionally concentrated by tangential flow ultrafiltration (TFF) using a 10 kD molecular weight cut-off membrane. The CM concentrate was filtered through a sterile 0.2 μm filter and then loaded onto a Heparin High Performance (Heparin HP) column (GE Healthcare, formerly Amersham Biosciences) equilibrated in PBS. Alternatively, the filtered CM supernatant may be loaded directly onto the Heparin HP column equilibrated in PBS.

After loading, the Heparin HP column was washed with PBS until the absorbance at 280 nm of the flow-through returned to baseline (i.e., absorbance measured before loading CM supernatant). The sclerostin was then eluted from the column using a linear gradient from 150 mM to 2M sodium chloride in PBS. The absorbance at 280 nm of the eluate was monitored and fractions containing protein were collected. The fractions were then assayed by Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE to identify fractions containing a polypeptide that migrates at the size of glycosylated sclerostin. The appropriate fractions from the column were combined to make the Heparin HP pool.

Cation Exchange Chromatography

The sclerostin eluted from the Heparin HP column was further purified by cation exchange chromatography using SP High Performance (SPHP) chromatography media (GE Healthcare, formerly Amersham Biosciences). The Heparin HP pool was buffer exchanged into PBS by dialysis using 10,000 MWCO membranes (Pierce Slide-A-Lyzer). The dialyzed Heparin HP pool was then loaded onto an SPHP column equilibrated in PBS. After loading, the column was washed with PBS until the absorbance at 280 nm of the flow-through returned to baseline. The sclerostin was then eluted from the SPHP column using a linear gradient from 150 mM to 1 M sodium chloride in PBS. The absorbance at 280 nm of the eluate was monitored and the eluted sclerostin was collected in fractions. The fractions were then assayed by Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE to identify fractions containing a polypeptide that migrates at the size of glycosylated sclerostin. The appropriate fractions from the column were combined to make the SPHP pool.

Formulation

Following purification, the SPHP pool was formulated in PBS by dialysis using 10,000 MWCO membranes (Pierce Slide-A-Lyzer). If concentration of sclerostin was necessary, a centrifugal device (Amicon Centricon or Centriprep) with a 10,000 MWCO membrane was used. Following formulation the sclerostin was filtered through a sterile 0.2 μm filter and stored at 4° C. or frozen.

Example 3 Peptide Binding ELISA

A series of overlapping peptides (each peptide being approximately 20-25 amino acids long) were synthesized based on the known amino acid sequence of rat sclerostin (SEQ ID NO:98). The peptides were designed such that they all contained a reduced cysteine residue; an additional cysteine was included at the C-terminus of each peptide which did not already contain one in its sequence. This enabled the peptides to be bound to the assay plates by covalent coupling, using commercially available sulfhydryl binding plates (Costar), at a concentration of 1 μg/ml, in phosphate buffered saline (PBS: pH 6.5) containing 1 mM EDTA. Following incubation for 1 hour at room temperature, the plates were washed three times with PBS containing 0.5% Tween 20. The plates were blocked by incubation with a PBS solution containing 0.5% fish skin gelatin (Sigma) for 30 minutes at room temperature and then washed three times in PBS containing 0.5% Tween 20.

Antibodies to be tested were diluted to 1 μg/ml in PBS containing 0.5% fish skin gelatin and incubated with the peptide-coated plates for 1 hour at room temperature. Excess antibody was removed by three washes with PBS, 0.5% Tween 20. The plates were then incubated with an appropriate secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (diluted appropriately in PBS containing 0.5% Tween 20) and capable of binding to the antibody of interest. The plates were then washed three times: once with PBS containing 0.5% Tween 20, and twice with PBS. Finally the plates were incubated with a horseradish peroxidase chromogenic substrate (TMB-Stable Stop, RDI) for 5 minutes at room temperature, the color development was stopped with acid, and the plates' optical density measured at 450 nm.

Materials

Costar's Sulfhydryl Binding Plates (VWR #29442-278)

Coating Buffer: 1×PBS PH 6.5+1 mM EDTA

Blocking Buffer: 1×PBS+0.5% Fish Skin Gelatin (PBS from CS; FSG from Sigma# G 7765)

Wash Buffer: 1X PBS+0.5% Tween 20

Rat Sclerostin peptides

Antibody Samples Transient Ab, Purified recombinant Ab, rabbit Serum, etc.

Appropriate secondary Ab: Goat-anti-Rabbit/Mouse-HRP (Jackson Immuno Research, 115-036-072)

TMB-Stable Stop (RDI# RDI-TMBSX-1L)

0.5M HCl

Methods were as follows:

-   1. Coat plates with 100 μl/well of rat sclerostin peptide diluted in     1×PBS PH 6.5+1 mM EDTA at 1 μg/ml. Incubate plates 1 hour at room     temperature. (Plates should be used within 30 minutes of opening). -   2. Wash plates 3× with wash buffer. -   3. Block plates with 200 ul/well blocking buffer. Incubate plates 30     minutes at room temp. -   4. Repeat washing as described in (2). -   5. Incubate plates with 50 ul/well of samples diluted in blocking     buffer—Serum titers starting at 1:100; Transient Recombinant Ab use     neat; Purified recombinant Ab use at 1 μg/ml (all samples run in     duplicates). Incubate plates 1 h at room temp. -   6. Wash plates as described in (2). -   7. Incubate plates with 50 μl/well of appropriate Secondary Antibody     (HRP labeled) diluted 1:1600 in Blocking Buffer. Incubate plates 1     hour at room temperature. -   8. Wash plates 1× wash buffer, 2×PBS -   9. Incubate plates with 50 μl/well of TMB, 5 minutes at room temp. -   10. Stop reaction with 50 μl/well 0.5M HCl. -   11. Read plates at 450 nm wavelength.

The following peptides sequences were screened as described above:

(SEQ ID NO: 82) QGWQAFKNDATEIIPGLREYPEPP (SEQ ID NO: 83) TEIIPGLREYPEPPQELENN (SEQ ID NO: 84) PEPPQELENNQTMNRAENGG (SEQ ID NO: 85) ENGGRPPHHPYDTKDVSEYS (SEQ ID NO: 86) CRELHYTRFVTDGP (SEQ ID NO: 87) CRELHYTRFVTDGPSRSAKPVTELV (SEQ ID NO: 88) CRSAKPVTELVSSGQSGPRARLL (SEQ ID NO: 89) CGPARLLPNAIGRVKWWRPNGPDFR (SEQ ID NO: 90) RAQRVQLLCPGGAAPRSRKV (SEQ ID NO: 91) PGGAAPRSRKVRLVAS (SEQ ID NO: 92) KRLTRFHNQSELKDFGPETARPQ (SEQ ID NO: 93) IPDRYAQRVQLLSPGG (SEQ ID NO: 94) SELKDFGPETARPQKGRKPRPRAR (SEQ ID NO: 95) KGRKPRPRARGAKANQAELENAY (SEQ ID NO: 96) PNAIGRVKWWRPNGPDFR (SEQ ID NO: 97) KWWRPNGPDFRCIPDRYRAQRV.

A high-affinity neutralizing antibody (Ab-19) bound to two overlapping peptide sequences: PNAIGRVKWWRPNGPDFR (SEQ ID NO:96) and KWWRPNGPDFRCIPDRYRAQRV (SEQ ID NO:97).

This procedure allows the recognition of epitopes for antibodies that react with apparent linear epitopes. Peptides that contain all or part of the antibody binding site will bind antibody and thus be detected.

Example 4 Identification of Human Sclerostin Epitopes

Sclerostin Structure

Mature form (signal peptide removed) human sclerostin is a 190 amino acid protein (FIG. 8). FIG. 9 shows a schematic of the general structure of sclerostin with an N-terminal arm (from the N-terminal Q to Cysteine1) and a C-terminal arm (from Cysteine-8 to the terminal Y). Sandwiched in between these two arms there is the cystine-knot structure and three loops which are designated Loop1, Loop2 and Loop 3. The four disulfide bonds in sclerostin are Cys1 at sequence position 57 linked to Cys5 at sequence position 111 (referred to as C1-C5), Cys2 at sequence position 71 linked to Cys6 at sequence position 125 (referred to as C2-C6), Cys3 at sequence position 82 linked to Cys7 at sequence position 142 (referred to as C3-C7), Cys4 at sequence position 86 linked to Cys8 at sequence position 144 (referred to as C4-C8). The eight-membered ring structure is formed via C3-C7 and C4-C8 disulfide bonding. This ring structure, together with the C1-C5 disulfide bond penetrating through the ring, forms a typical cystine-knot. C2-C6, which is not part of the cystine-knot, brings two large loop structures, loop 1 (residues 57 to 82) and loop 3 (residues 111 to 142) close together. Loop 2 goes from C4 (residue 86) to C5 (residue 111).

EXPERIMENTAL

The general approach for characterizing the epitopes bound by anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibodies involved fragmenting human Sclerostin into peptides with different proteases, determining the sequence of the various human sclerostin peptides, isolating these peptides and testing each of them for their ability to bind to a particular monoclonal antibody using a Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay.”. The resulting data permitted the location of the binding epitope to be determined.

The peptide digests were subjected to HPLC peptide mapping; the individual peaks were collected, and the peptides identified and mapped by matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and electrospray ionization LC-MS (ESI-LC-MS) analyses and/or by N-terminal sequencing. All HPLC analyses for these studies were performed using a reverse-phase C8 column (2.1 mm i.d.×15 cm length). HPLC peptide mapping was performed with a linear gradient from 0.05% trifloroacetic acid (mobile phase A) to 90% acetonitrile in 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid. Columns were developed over 50 minutes at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min.

Trypsin and AspN Endoproteinase Digestions

Mature form human sclerostin was digested with trypsin, which cleaves after arginine and lysine, or with AspN. About 200 μg of sclerostin at 0.5-1.0 mg/ml was incubated in PBS (pH 7.2) for 20 hrs at 37° C. with 8 μg of either trypsin or AspN.

Trypsin Digestion

HPLC chromatography of the trypsin digests yielded several major peaks (FIG. 10A). Sequence analysis was conducted on the peptide peaks recovered from HPLC after trypsin digestion. On-line ESI LC-MS analysis of the peptide digest was also performed to determine the precise mass of the peptides that were separated by HPLC. The identity of the peptides present in the peptide peaks was thus determined (FIG. 11). FIG. 13 shows the alignment of various peptide sequences (T19.2, T20, T20.6, T21-22) along the sclerostin sequence. The number following each T (e.g., T19.2) reflects the retention time. T19.2 contains two peptides (one from loop 1 and one from loop 3) linked by the C2-C6 disulfide bond. T20 contains two peptides held together by the cystine-knot structure, with intact loops 1 and 3 held together by the C2-C6 disulfide and with most of loop 2 absent. T20.6 contains four sequences held together by the cystine-knot structure, but is missing part of loop 1 and 3 (the T19.2 part) and is missing most of loop 2. T21-22 is almost identical to T20 but has 3 additional amino acids in the loop 2 region.

AspN Digestion

HPLC chromatography of the AspN digests yielded several major peaks (FIG. 10B). Sequence analysis was conducted on the peptide peaks recovered from HPLC. On-line ESI LC-MS analysis of the peptide digest was also performed to determine the precise mass of the peptides that were separated by HPLC. The identity of the peptides present in the peptide peaks from the AspN digestion was thus determined (FIG. 12). FIG. 14 shows the alignment of various peptide sequences (AspN14.6, AspN18.6, AspN22.7-23.5) along the sclerostin sequence. The number following each AspN (e.g. AspN18.6) reflects the retention time. AspN14.6 contains three short peptides from both the N- and C-terminal arms of sclerostin, while AspN18.6 is a larger peptide from the N-terminal arm of sclerostin. AspN22.7-23.5 contains a single peptide fragment of 104 amino acids the encompasses all eight cysteines (the four disulfide bonds), the cystine-knot and all of loops 1, 2 and 3.

The strategy for characterizing the epitopes was to use these various trypsin and AspN generated human sclerostin peptides and determine which peptides could still be bound by the various Antibodies (Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C and Ab-D). Specifically this was tested in a Biacore-based “human sclerostin peptide epitope competition binding assay” where the binding of a particular monoclonal antibody to human sclerostin immobilized on the Biacore chip was determine in the presence or absence of each of the various isolated trypsin and AspN HPLC peptide fractions. In the absence of any competing peptides, the particular monoclonal antibody was able to bind the human sclerostin on the chip and produce a resonance unit, RU, response. Preincubation of the particular monoclonal antibody with intact human sclerostin in solution, followed by testing of binding to the chip, demonstrated that the binding of the Mab to human sclerostin in solution prevented the binding of the Mab to the human sclerostin on the chip, thus validating the general principal of this competition assay.

This general procedure was repeated individually for each peptide. A robust RU response was taken to indicate that the particular peptide being tested could not bind the Mab in solution (hence the Mab was free to bind the human sclerostin that had been immobilized on the chip). Conversely, the absence of a robust RU response indicated that the Mab was able to bind the sclerostin peptide in solution. These binding patterns, couple with the known identity of the various sclerostin peptides, were used to determine the epitopes of sclerostin that were bound by anti-sclerostin antibodies Ab-A, Ab-B, Ab-C and Ab-D.

Biacore-Based Human Sclerostin Peptide Epitope Competition Binding Assay

Preparation of Human Sclerostin Surface:

Immobilization of mature form human sclerostin to a BIAcore sensor chip (CM5) surface was performed according to manufacturer's instructions. Briefly, carboxyl groups on the sensor chip surfaces were activated by injecting 60 μL of a mixture containing 0.2 M N-ethyl-N′-(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and 0.05 M N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Human sclerostin was diluted in 10 mM sodium acetate, pH 4.0 at a concentration of 20 μg/mL followed by injecting over the activated CM5 surface. Excess reactive groups on the surfaces were deactivated by injecting 60 μL of 1 M ethanolamine. Final immobilized levels were ˜5000 resonance units (RU) for the human sclerostin surface. A blank, mock-coupled reference surface was also prepared on the sensor chips.

Binding Specificity Analysis:

1X Phosphate-buffered saline without calcium chloride or magnesium chloride was from Gibco/Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif. Bovine serum albumin, fraction V, IgG-free was from Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo. Each Mab (2 nM) was separately incubated with 20 nM human sclerostin or a particular human sclerostin peptide (note: there are 3 unlinked peptides in AspN14.6) in sample buffer (1X PBS+0.005% P-20+0.1 mg/mL BSA) before injection over the immobilized human sclerostin surface. The flow rate for sample injection was 5 μL/min followed by surface regeneration using 1 M NaCl in 8 mM Glycine, pH 2.0 at 30 μL/min for 30 seconds. The data was analyzed using BIAevaluation 3.2, and is presented in FIG. 15 (Ab-A), FIG. 16 (Ab-B), FIG. 17 (Ab-C) and FIG. 18 (Ab-D).

Loop 2 and T20.6 Epitopes:

The sclerostin peptide binding pattern for two representative antibodies (Ab-A and Ab-B) were virtually identical (FIG. 15 and FIG. 16) and showed that both of these Antibodies could only bind the AspN22.7-23.5 peptide. The unique difference between AspN22.7-23.5 and all the other sclerostin peptides is that AspN22.7-23.5 contains an intact loop 2. This shows that Ab-A and Ab-B bind the loop 2 region of sclerostin thus defining the loop 2 epitope (FIG. 19A). The sclerostin peptide binding pattern for Ab-C and Ab-D were virtually identical to each other (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) but completely distinct from that found for Ab-A and Ab-B. Of the peptides tested in this Example, the most diminutive peptide that Ab-C and Ab-D could bind to was the T20.6 peptide. This result defines the T20.6 epitope (FIG. 19B).

Protease Protection Assay:

The general principle of this assay is that binding of a Mab to sclerostin can result in protection of certain specific protease cleavage sites and this information can be used to determine the region of sclerostin to where the Mab binds.

“T20.6 Derivative 1 (Cystine-Knot+4 Arms)” Epitope:

FIG. 20 shows the HPLC peptide maps for a human sclerostin Ab-D complex (FIG. 20A: human sclerostin was preincubated at a 1:1 molar ratio with Ab-D prior to digestion with trypsin as described above) and human sclerostin alone (FIG. 20B: human sclerostin was digested with trypsin as described above). The peptide peaks of T19.2 and T20.6 in FIG. 20A showed a clear reduction in their respective peak height, as compared to FIG. 20B. This reduction in peak heights was accompanied by an increase in peak height for peptides T20 and T21-22. These data indicate that basic amino acid residues in loop 1 and loop 3, which in the absence of Ab-D were cleaved by trypsin to generate peptides T19.2 and T20.6, were resistant to cleavage by trypsin when Ab-D was prebound to sclerostin. The presence of T20, T20.6 and T21-22 indicates that loop 2 was still cleaved efficiently when Ab-D was prebound to sclerostin. These data indicate that Ab-D bound on the loop 1 and loop 3 side of the T20.6 epitope thus defining the smaller “T20.6 derivative 1 (cystine-knot+4 arms)” epitope shown in FIG. 21.

Example 5 In Vivo Testing of Anti-Sclerostin Monoclonal Antibodies in Mice

Four week-old BDF1 male mice were obtained from Charles River Laboratories (Raleigh, N.C.) and housed in clean caging, five animals per cage. Room temperature was maintained between 68 and 72° F., and relative humidity was maintained between 34 and 73%. The laboratory housing the cages had a 12-hour light/dark cycle and met all AAALAC specifications. Clinical observations of all mice on study occurred once daily.

Purified anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibodies (Ab-A FIG. 1; Ab-B FIG. 2; Ab-C FIG. 3; Ab-D FIG. 4) were diluted in sterile Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline. Mice were injected with anti-sclerostin Antibodies or PBS vehicle subcutaneously at 21 μl per gram body weight, two times per week (Monday and Thursday) at 25 mg/kg. Human PTH (1-34) was diluted in PTH buffer (0.001 N HCl, 0.15 M NaCl, 2% BSA), and dosed subcutaneously at 21 μl per gram body weight five times per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) at 100 μg/kg as a positive control (FIGS. 5 and 6). Number of mice per group was N=5 in FIGS. 5 and 6, and N=6 in FIG. 7.

PIXImus In Vivo Bone Densitometry

Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined weekly at the proximal tibial metaphysis and lumbar vertebrae by peripheral Dual Energy X-ray Absorptometry (pDEXA) with the PIXImus2 system from GE/Lunar Medical Systems, Madison, Wis. A 25 mm² region of interest (ROI) was placed to include the proximal articular surface, the epiphysis, and the proximal end on the metaphysis of the tibia. A region of interest (ROI) was placed to include the lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5). The proximal tibia and lumbar regions were analyzed to determine total bone mineral density. Group means were reported±Standard Deviation and compared to the vehicle treatment group for statistical analysis.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with a Dunnett's and Tukey-Kramer (using MS Excel and JMP v. 5.0. for the BMD data). Group means for each data set were considered significantly different when the P value was less than 0.05 (P<0.05).

Sclerostin Neutralizing Activity of Antibodies

The statistically significant increases in BMD as compared to vehicle seen for each of Ab-A (FIG. 5), Ab-B (FIG. 5), Ab-C (FIG. 6) and Ab-D (FIG. 7) demonstrates that these four antibodies are sclerostin neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore this data shows that, for anti-sclerostin antibodies that bind mouse sclerostin, treatment and analysis of mice as described above can be used to identify sclerostin neutralizing antibodies.

Example 6 Screening Assay for Antibodies that Block Binding of an Antibody to Human Sclerostin

Human sclerostin was coupled to a CM5 Biacore chip using standard amine coupling chemistry to generate a sclerostin coated surface. 300 resonance units of sclerostin were coupled to the surface.

The antibodies to be tested were diluted to a concentration of 200 ug/ml in HBS-EP buffer (being 10 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.005% (v/v) Surfactant P20) and then mixed in a one to one molar ratio (on a binding site basis) to generate the test mixture. This test mixture thus contained each antibody at a concentration of 100 ug/ml (1.3 um on a binding site basis). Separate solutions containing each of the antibodies in the test mix alone were also prepared. These solutions contained the individual antibodies in HBS-EP buffer at a concentration of 100 ug/ml (1.3 um on a binding site basis).

20 μL of the test mixture was passed over the sclerostin-coated chip at a flow rate of 10 μL/min and the amount of binding recorded. The chip was then treated with two 60 second pulses of 30 mM HCl to remove all of the bound antibody. A solution containing only one of the antibodies of the test mixture (at 1.3 μM in the same buffer as the test mixture on a binding site basis) was then passed over the chip in the same manner as the test mixture and the amount of binding recorded. The chip was again treated to remove all of the bound antibody and finally a solution containing the other antibody from the test mixture alone (at 1.3 μM in the same buffer as the test mixture on a binding site basis) was passed over the chip and the amount of binding recorded.

The table below show the results from cross-blocking assays on a range of different antibodies. The values in each square of the table represent the amount of binding (in RU) seen when the antibodies (at 1.3 μM on a binding site basis) or buffer indicated in the top row of the table were mixed with the antibodies (at 1.3 uM on a binding site basis) or buffer indicated in the first column of the table.

Buffer Ab-4 Ab-13 Ab-A Ab-3 Ab-19 Buffer −0.5 693 428.5 707.3 316.1 649.9 Ab-4 687.7 795.1 1018.2 860.5 869.3 822.5 Ab-13 425.6 1011.3 442.7 1108.4 431.9 1042.4 Ab-A 692.4 833.1 1080.4 738.5 946.2 868.1 Ab-3 305.5 845.1 428.2 952.2 344.4 895.7 Ab-19 618.1 788.6 1022.5 863.3 891.5 658.7

Using the mean binding value (in RU) for each combination of antibodies in the above table (since each combination appears twice) it is possible to calculate the percentage of the theoretical binding shown by each combination of antibodies. The theoretical binding being calculated as the sum of the average values for the components of each test mixture when assayed alone (i.e., antibody and buffer).

Buffer Ab-4 Ab-13 Ab-A Ab-3 Ab-19 Buffer Ab-4 90.75 60.45 85.4 60.75 Ab-13 96.9 58.0 97.0 Ab-A 93.5 65.0 Ab-3 94.4 Ab-19

From the above data it is clear that Ab-4, Ab-A and Ab-19 cross-block each other. Similarly Ab-13 and Ab-3 cross block each other.

Example 7 ELISA-Based Cross-Blocking Assay

Liquid volumes used in this example would be those typically used in 96-well plate ELISAs (e.g. 50-200 μl/well). Ab-X and Ab-Y, in this example are assumed to have molecular weights of about 145 Kd and to have 2 sclerostin binding sites per antibody molecule. An anti-sclerostin antibody (Ab-X) is coated (e.g. 50μ of 1 μg/ml) onto a 96-well ELISA plate [e.g. Corning 96 Well EIA/RIA Flat Bottom Microplate (Product #3590), Corning Inc., Acton, Mass.] for at least one hour. After this coating step the antibody solution is removed, the plate is washed once or twice with wash solution (e.g., PBS and 0.05% Tween 20) and is then blocked using an appropriate blocking solution (e.g., PBS, 1% BSA, 1% goat serum and 0.5% Tween 20) and procedures known in the art. Blocking solution is then removed from the ELISA plate and a second anti-sclerostin antibody (Ab-Y), which is being tested for it's ability to cross-block the coated antibody, is added in excess (e.g. 50 μl of 10 μg/ml) in blocking solution to the appropriate wells of the ELISA plate. Following this, a limited amount (e.g. 50 μl of 10 ng/ml) of sclerostin in blocking solution is then added to the appropriate wells and the plate is incubated for at least one hour at room temperature while shaking. The plate is then washed 2-4 times with wash solution. An appropriate amount of a sclerostin detection reagent [e.g., biotinylated anti-sclerostin polyclonal antibody that has been pre-complexed with an appropriate amount of a streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugate] in blocking solution is added to the ELISA plate and incubated for at least one hour at room temperature. The plate is then washed at least 4 times with wash solution and is developed with an appropriate reagent [e.g. HRP substrates such as TMB (colorimetric) or various HRP luminescent substrates]. The background signal for the assay is defined as the signal obtained in wells with the coated antibody (in this case Ab-X), second solution phase antibody (in this case Ab-Y), sclerostin buffer only (i.e. no sclerostin) and sclerostin detection reagents. The positive control signal for the assay is defined as the signal obtained in wells with the coated antibody (in this case Ab-X), second solution phase antibody buffer only (i.e. no second solution phase antibody), sclerostin and sclerostin detection reagents. The ELISA assay needs to be run in such a manner so as to have the positive control signal be at least 6 times the background signal.

To avoid any artifacts (e.g. significantly different affinities between Ab-X and Ab-Y for sclerostin) resulting from the choice of which antibody to use as the coating antibody and which to use as the second (competitor) antibody, the cross-blocking assay needs to be run in two formats:

1) format 1 is where Ab-X is the antibody that is coated onto the ELISA plate and Ab-Y is the competitor antibody that is in solution

and

2) format 2 is where Ab-Y is the antibody that is coated onto the ELISA plate and Ab-X is the competitor antibody that is in solution.

Ab-X and Ab-Y are defined as cross-blocking if, either in format 1 or in format 2, the solution phase anti-sclerostin antibody is able to cause a reduction of between 60% and 100%, specifically between 70% and 100%, and more specifically between 80% and 100%, of the sclerostin detection signal (i.e. the amount of sclerostin bound by the coated antibody) as compared to the sclerostin detection signal obtained in the absence of the solution phase anti-sclerostin antibody (i.e. the positive control wells).

In the event that a tagged version of sclerostin is used in the ELISA, such as a N-terminal His-tagged Sclerostin (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., USA; 2005 cat#1406-ST-025) then an appropriate type of sclerostin detection reagent would include an HRP labeled anti-H is antibody. In addition to using N-terminal His-tagged Sclerostin, one could also use C-terminal His-tagged Sclerostin. Furthermore, various other tags and tag binding protein combinations that are known in the art could be used in this ELISA-based cross-blocking assay (e.g., HA tag with anti-HA antibodies; FLAG tag with anti-FLAG antibodies; biotin tag with streptavidin).

Example 8 Cell Based Mineralization Assay for Identifying Agents able to Antagonize Sclerostin Activity

Introduction

Mineralization by osteoblast-lineage cells in culture, either primary cells or cell lines, is used as an in vitro model of bone formation. Mineralization takes from about one to six weeks to occur beginning with the induction of osteoblast-lineage cell differentiation by one or more differentiation agents. The overall sequence of events involves cell proliferation, differentiation, extracellular matrix production, matrix maturation and finally deposition of mineral, which refers to crystallization and/or deposition of calcium phosphate. This sequence of events starting with cell proliferation and differentiation, and ending with deposition of mineral is referred to herein as mineralization. Measurement of calcium (mineral) is the output of the assay.

Deposition of mineral has a strong biophysical characteristic, in that once mineral “seeds” begin to form, the total amount of mineral that will be deposited in the entire culture can sometimes be deposited quite rapidly, such as within a few days thereafter. The timing and extent of mineral deposition in culture is influenced, in part, by the particular osteoblast-lineage cells/cell-line being used, the growth conditions, the choice of differentiation agents and the particular lot number of serum used in the cell culture media. For osteoblast-lineage cell/cell-line mineralization cultures, at least eight to fifteen serum lots from more than one supplier should be tested in order to identify a particular serum lot that allows for mineralization to take place.

MC3T3-E1 cells (Sudo H et al., In vitro differentiation and calcification in a new clonal osteogenic cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria. J. Cell Biol. 96:191-198) and subclones of the original cell line can form mineral in culture upon growth in the presence of differentiating agents. Such subclones include MC3T3-E1-BF (Smith E, Redman R, Logg C, Coetzee G, Kasahara N, Frenkel B. 2000. Glucocorticoids inhibit developmental stage-specific osteoblast cell cycle. J Biol Chem 275:19992-20001).

Identification of Sclerostin Neutralizing Antibodies

MC3T3-E1-BF cells were used for the mineralization assay. Ascorbic acid and B-glycerophosphate were used to induce MC3T3-E1-BF cell differentiation leading to mineral deposition. The specific screening protocol, in 96-well format, involved plating cells on a Wednesday, followed by seven media changes (as described further below) over a 12-day period with most of the mineral deposition taking place in the final approximately eighteen hours (e.g. Sunday night through Monday). For any given treatment, 3 wells were used (N=3). The specific timing, and extent, of mineral deposition may vary depending, in part, on the particular serum lot number being used. Control experiments will allow such variables to be accounted for, as is well know in the art of cell culture experimentation generally.

In this assay system sclerostin inhibited one or more of the sequence of events leading up to and including mineral deposition (i.e., sclerostin inhibited mineralization). Anti-sclerostin antibodies that were able to neutralize sclerostin's inhibitory activity allowed for mineralization of the culture in the presence of sclerostin such that there was a statistically significant increase in deposition of calcium phosphate (measured as calcium) as compared to the amount of calcium measured in the sclerostin-only (i.e., no antibody) treatment group. For statistical analysis (using MS Excel and JMP) a 1-way-ANOVA followed by Dunnett's comparison was used to determine differences between groups. Group means for each data set were considered significantly different when the P value was less than 0.05 (P<0.05). A representative result from running this assay is shown in FIG. 22. In the absence of recombinant mouse sclerostin, the sequence of events leading up to and including mineral deposition proceeded normally. Calcium levels in each treatment group are shown as means±Standard Error of the Mean (SEM). In this exemplary experiment calcium levels from the calcium assay were ˜31 μg/ml. However, addition of recombinant mouse sclerostin caused inhibition of mineralization, and calcium was reduced by ˜85%. Addition of anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibody Ab-19 or Ab-4 along with the recombinant sclerostin resulted in a statistically significant increase in mineral deposition, as compared to the sclerostin-only group, because the inhibitory activity of sclerostin was neutralized by either antibody. The results from this experiment indicate that Ab-19 and Ab-4 are sclerostin neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (Mabs).

FIG. 23 shows a very similar result using recombinant human sclerostin and two humanized anti-sclerostin Mabs. FIG. 24 also shows a very similar result using recombinant human sclerostin and mouse and humanized anti-sclerostin Mabs as indicated.

The antibodies used for the experiments shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 have molecular weights of about 145 Kd and have 2 sclerostin binding sites per antibody molecule.

A detailed MC3T3-E1-BF cell culture protocol is described below.

Reagents and Medias

Reagents Company Catalog # Alpha-MEM Gibco-Invitrogen 12571-048 Ascorbic acid Sigma A4544 Beta-glycerophosphate Sigma G6376 100X PenStrepGlutamine Gibco-Invitrogen 10378-016 Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) Sigma D5879 or D2650 Fetal bovine serum (FBS) Cansera CS-C08-500 (lot # SF50310) or Fetal bovine serum (FBS) TerraCell Int. CS-C08-1000A (lot # SF-20308) Alpha-MEM is usually manufactured with a 1 year expiration date. Alpha-MEM that was not older than 6-months post-manufacture date was used for the cell culture. Expansion Medium (Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu) was prepared as follows: A 500 ml bottle of FBS was thawed and filter sterilized through a 0.22 micron filter. 100 mls of this FBS was added to 1 liter of Alpha-MEM followed by the addition of 10 mls of 100× PenStrepGlutamine. Unused FBS was aliquoted and refrozen for later use. Differentiation Medium (Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu, +50 μg/ml ascorbic acid, +10 mM beta-glycerophosphate) was prepared as follows: 100 mls of Differentiation Medium was prepared by supplementing 100 mls of Expansion Medium with ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate as follows:

Stock conc (see below) Volume Final Conc. Ascorbic acid 10 mg/ml 0.5 mls 100 μg/ml (50 ug/ml + 50 μg/ml) β-glycerophosphate 1M 1.0 mls 10 mM

Differentiation Medium was made by supplementing Expansion Medium only on the day that the Differentiation media was going to be used for cell culture. The final concentration of ascorbic acid in Differentiation medium is 100 μg/ml because Alpha-MEM already contains 50 μg/ml ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid stock solution (10 mg/ml) was made and aliquoted for freezing at −80° C. Each aliquot was only used once (i.e. not refrozen). Beta-glycerophosphate stock solution (1 M) was made and aliquoted for freezing at −20° C. Each aliquot was frozen and thawed a maximum of 5 times before being discarded.

Cell Culture for expansion of MC3T3-E1-BF cells.

Cell culture was performed at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. A cell bank was generated for the purposes of screening for sclerostin neutralizing antibodies. The cell bank was created as follows:

One vial of frozen MC3T3-E1-BF cells was thawed by agitation in a 37° C. water bath. The thawed cells were put into 10 mls of Expansion Medium (Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu) in a 50 ml tube and gently spun down for 5 minutes. The cells were then resuspended in 4 mls of Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu. After determining the number of cells using trypan blue and hemacytometer, 1×10⁶ cells were plated in 50 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu media in one T175 flask.

When this passage was confluent (at approximately 7 days), the cells were trypsinized with trypsin/EDTA (0.05% Trypsin; 0.53 mM EDTA), gently spun down for 5 minutes and then resuspended in 5 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu. After determining the number of cells using trypan blue and hemacytometer, cells were plated at 1×10⁶ cells in 50 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu media per one T175 flask. The number of T175 flasks used for plating at this point depended upon the total cell number available and the desired number of flasks that were to be taken forward to the next passage. Extra cells were frozen down at 1−2×10⁶ live cells/ml in 90% FBS/10% DMSO.

When this passage was confluent (about 3-4 days), the cells were trypsinized with trypsin/EDTA (0.05% Trypsin; 0.53 mM EDTA), gently spun down for 5 minutes and then resuspended in 5 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu. After determining the number of cells using trypan blue and hemacytometer, cells were plated at 1×10⁶ cells in 50 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu media per one T175 flask. The number of T175 flasks used for plating at this point depended upon the total cell number available and the desired number of flasks that were to be taken forward to the next passage. Extra cells were frozen down at 1−2×10⁶ live cells/ml in 90% FBS/10% DMSO.

When this passage was confluent (about 3-4 days), the cells were trypsinized with trypsin/EDTA (0.05% Trypsin; 0.53 mM EDTA), gently spun down for 5 minutes and then resuspended in 5 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu. After determining the number of cells using trypan blue and hemacytometer, cells were plated at 1×10⁶ cells in 50 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu media per one T175 flask. The number of T175 flasks used for plating at this point depended upon the total cell number available and the desired number of flasks that were to be taken forward to the next passage. Extra cells were frozen down at 1−2×10⁶ live cells/ml in 90% FBS/10% DMSO.

When this passage was confluent (about 3-4 days), the cells were trypsinized with trypsin/EDTA (0.05% Trypsin; 0.53 mM EDTA), gently spun down for 5 minutes and then resuspended in 5 mls Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu. After determining the number of cells using trypan blue and hemacytometer, the cells were frozen down at 1−2×10⁶ live cells/ml in 90% FBS/10% DMSO. This “final passage” of frozen cells was the passage that was used for the screening assay.

Cell Culture for Mineralizing MC3T3-E1-BF Cells.

Cell culture was performed at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. It is desirable to minimize temperature and % CO₂ fluctuations during the mineralization cell culture procedure. This can be achieved by minimizing the time that plates spend out of the incubator during feeding and also by minimizing the number of times the incubator door is opened and closed during the mineralization cell culture procedure. In this regard having a tissue culture incubator that is dedicated exclusively for the mineralization cell culture (and thus not opened and closed more than is necessary) can be helpful.

An appropriate number of “final passage” vials prepared as described above were thawed by agitation in a 37° C. water bath. The thawed cells were put into 10 mls of Expansion Medium (Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu) in a 50 ml tube and gently spun down for 5 minutes. The cells were then resuspended in 4 mls of Alpha-MEM/10% FBS/PenStrepGlu. After determining the number of cells by trypan blue and hemacytometer, 2500 cells were plated in 200 microliters of Expansion media per well on collagen I coated 96-well plates (Becton Dickinson Labware, cat #354407).

To avoid a mineralization plate-edge effect, cells were not plated in the outermost row/column all the way around the plate. Instead 200 microliters of PBS was added to these wells.

Exemplary Cell Culture Procedure

In the following procedure, the starting day for plating the cells is indicated to be a Wednesday. If a different day of the week is used as the starting day for plating the cells, that day will trigger the daily schedule for removing and adding media during the entire process as indicated below. For example, if the cells are plated on a Tuesday, media should not be removed and added on the first Friday and Saturday, nor on the second Friday and Saturday. With a Tuesday start, the plates would be prepared for the calcium assay on the final Sunday.

Cells were plated on a Wednesday at 2500 cells in 200 μl of Expansion media.

On Thursday all of the Expansion media was removed and 200 μl of Differentiation Media was added.

On Friday 100 μl of media was removed and 100 μl of fresh Differentiation Media was added.

On Monday 100 μl of media was removed and 100 μl of fresh Differentiation Media was added.

On Tuesday 100 μl of media was removed and 100 μl of fresh Differentiation Media was added.

On Wednesday 100 μl of media was removed and 100 μl of fresh Differentiation Media was added.

On Thursday 100 μl of media was removed and 100 μl of fresh Differentiation Media was added.

On Friday 100 μl of media was removed and 100 μl of fresh Differentiation Media was added.

On the following Monday plates were prepared for the calcium assay as follows:

Plates were washed once with 10 mM Tris, HCl pH 7-8.

Working under a fume hood, 200 μl of 0.5 N HCl was added per well. Plates were then frozen at −80° C.

Just prior to measuring calcium, the plates were freeze-thawed twice, and then trituration with a multichannel pipette was used to disperse the contents of the plate. The contents of the plate was then allowed to settle at 4° C. for 30 minutes at which point an appropriate amount of supernatant was removed for measuring calcium using a commercially available calcium kit. An exemplary and not-limiting kit is Calcium (CPC) Liquicolor, Cat. No. 0150-250, Stanbio Laboratory, Boerne, Tex.

In this cell based assay, sclerostin inhibits one or more of the sequence of events leading up to and including mineral deposition (i.e. sclerostin inhibits mineralization). Thus, in experiments where sclerostin was included in the particular cell culture experiment, the recombinant sclerostin was added to the media starting on the first Thursday and every feeding day thereafter. In cases where an anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibody (Mab) was being tested for the ability to neutralize sclerostin, i.e. allow for mineralization by neutralizing sclerostin's ability to inhibit mineralization, the Mab was added to the media starting on the first Thursday and every feeding day thereafter. According to the protocol, this was accomplished as follows: the Mab was preincubated with the recombinant sclerostin in Differentiation media for 45-60 minutes at 37° C. and then this media was used for feeding the cells.

Described above is a 12-day mineralization protocol for MC3T3-E1-BF cells. Using the same reagents and feeding protocol, the original MC3T3-E1 cells (Sudo H, Kodama H-A, Amagai Y, Yamamoto S, Kasai S. 1983. In vitro differentiation and calcification in a new clonal osteogenic cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria. J Cell Biol 96:191-198) which we obtained from the RIKEN Cell Bank (RCB 1126, RIKEN BioResource Center 3-1-1 Koyadai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0074 Japan) took longer to mineralize (20 days total for mineralization) than the MC3T3-E1-BF cells. Mineralization of the original MC3T3-E1 cells was inhibited by recombinant sclerostin and this inhibition was blocked using a sclerostin neutralizing antibody.

Example 9 Anti-Sclerostin Antibody Protects from Inflammation-Induced Bone Loss in the CD4 CD45RB^(HI) Transfer Model of Colitis in SCID Mice

Summary of Model

Injection of the CD45RB^(high) subset of CD4+ T cells into C.B-17 scid mice results in chronic intestinal inflammation with characteristics similar to those of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diarrhoea and wasting disease is noted 3-5 weeks after cell transfer with severe leukocyte infiltration into the colon accompanied by epithelial cell hyperplasia and granuloma formation. C.B-17 scid mice which receive the reciprocal subset of CD4+ cells, those which express CD45RB^(low), do not exhibit colitis and have a weight gain indistinguishable from uninjected scid mice. In addition to colitis symptoms, the CD4+ CD45RB^(high) T cell transfer model of colitis is accompanied by a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD), thought to be primarily through inflammatory mechanisms rather than dietary malabsorption (Byrne, F. R. et al., Gut 54:78-86, 2005).

Induction of Colitis and Inflammation-Induced Bone Loss

Spleens were taken from female balb/c mice and disrupted through a 70 μm cell strainer. The CD4+ population was then enriched by negative selection with Dynabeads using antibodies against B220, MAC-1, CD8 and I-A^(d). The enriched population was then stained with FITC conjugated anti-CD4 and PE conjugated anti-CD45RB and fractionated into CD4+CD45RB^(high) and CD4+CD45RB^(low) populations by two-color sorting on a Moflo (Dakocytomation). The CD45RB^(high) and CD45RB^(low) populations were defined as the brightest staining 40% and the dullest staining 20% of CD4+ cells respectively. 5×10⁵ cells were then injected i.p. into C.B-17 scid mice on day 0 and the development of colitis was monitored through the appearance of soft stools or diarrhoea and weight loss. Bone mineral density measurements were taken at the termination of the study (day 88).

Effect of Anti-Sclerostin Treatment on Colitis Symptoms and BMD

Ab-A IgG was dosed at 10 mg/kg s.c. from the day prior to CD4+CD45RB^(high) cell transfer and compared with mice which received the negative control antibody 101.4 also dosed at 10 mg/kg s.c. The antibodies were dosed weekly thereafter. A group of mice which received non-pathogenic CD4+CD45RB^(low) cells and were dosed with 10 mg/kg 101.4 was studied as a control. At the termination of the study (day 88) the bone mineral density was measured and sections of the colon taken for analysis of cell infiltration and assessment of histological damage.

a) No Effect on Colitis Symptoms

Typical colitis symptoms such as weight loss and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the colon were unaffected by treatment with Ab-A. Similarly there was no improvement of histological damage to the colon after treatment with Ab-A.

b) Inhibition of Inflammation-Induced Loss of Bone Mineral Density.

On day 88 after transfer of cells into C.B-17 scid mice, the bone mineral density was measured (total BMD, vertebrae BMD and femur BMD). In comparison to control mice which received CD4+CD45RB^(low) non-pathogenic cells, mice which received CD4+CD45RB^(high) T cells and the negative control antibody 101.4 had reduced bone mineral density, as shown in FIG. 25. In contrast, no reduction in BMD was noted after treatment with Ab-A. Total, vertebrae and femur measurements of BMD were significantly higher in mice receiving CD4+ CD45RB^(high) T cells and treated with Ab-A than mice receiving CD4+ CD45RB^(high) T cells and treated with 101.4 (P<0.001 by Bonferroni multiple comparison test).

Example 10 KinExa-Based Determination of Affinity (K_(D)) of Anti-Sclerostin Antibodies for Human Sclerostin

The affinity of several anti-sclerostin antibodies to human sclerostin was assessed by a solution equilibrium binding analysis using KinExA® 3000 (Sapidyne Instruments Inc., Boise, Id.). For these measurements, Reacti-Gel 6× beads (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) were pre-coated with 40 μg/ml human sclerostin in 50 mM Na2CO3, pH 9.6 at 4° C. overnight. The beads were then blocked with 1 mg/ml BSA in 1 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.5 at 4° C. for two hours. 10 pM, 30 pM, or 100 pM of the antibody was mixed with various concentrations of human sclerostin, ranging in concentration from 0.1 pM to 1 nM, and equilibrated at room temperature for over 8 hours in PBS with 0.1 mg/ml BSA and 0.005% P20. The mixtures were then passed over the human sclerostin coated beads. The amount of bead-bound anti-sclerostin antibody was quantified using fluorescent Cy5-labeled goat anti-mouse-IgG or fluorescent Cy5-labeled goat anti-human-IgG antibodies (Jackson Immuno Research, West Grove, Pa.) for the mouse or human antibody samples, respectively. The amount of fluorescent signal measured was proportional to the concentration of free anti-sclerostin antibody in each reaction mixture at equilibrium. The dissociation equilibrium constant (K_(D)) was obtained from nonlinear regression of the competition curves using a n-curve one-site homogeneous binding model provided in the KinExA Pro software. Results of the KinExA assays for the selected antibodies are summarized in the table below.

Antibodies Antigen K_(D) (pM) 95% confidence interval Ab-13 Human Sclerostin 0.6 0.4~0.8 pM Ab-4 Human Sclerostin 3 1.8~4 pM Ab-19 Human Sclerostin 3 1.7~4 pM Ab-14 Human Sclerostin 1 0.5~2 pM Ab-5 Human Sclerostin 6 4.3~8 pM Ab-23 Human Sclerostin 4 2.1~8 pM

Example 11 Biacore Method for Determining the Affinity of Humanised Anti-Sclerostin Antibodies for Human Sclerostin

The BIAcore technology monitors the binding between biomolecules in real time and without the requirement for labelling. One of the interactants, termed the ligand, is either immobilised directly or captured on the immobilised surface while the other, termed the analyte, flows in solution over the captured surface. The sensor detects the change in mass on the sensor surface as the analyte binds to the ligand to form a complex on the surface. This corresponds to the association process. The dissociation process is monitored when the analyte is replaced by buffer. In the affinity BIAcore assay, the ligand is the anti-sclerostin antibody and the analyte is sclerostin.

Instrument

Biacore® 3000, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden

Sensor Chip

CM5 (research grade) Catalogue Number: BR-1001-14, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden. Chips were stored at 4° C.

BIAnormalising Solution

70% (w/w) Glycerol. Part of BIAmaintenance Kit Catalogue Number: BR-1002-51, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden. The BIAmaintenance kit was stored at 4° C.

Amine Coupling Kit

Catalogue Number: BR-1000-50, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden.

Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). Made up to 75 mg/mL in distilled water and stored in 200 μL aliquots at −70° C.

N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Made up to 11.5 mg/mL in distilled water and stored in 200 μL aliquots at −70° C.

1 M Ethanolamine hydrochloride-NaOH pH 8.5. Stored in 200 μL aliquots at −70° C.

Buffers

Running buffer for immobilising capture antibody: HBS-EP (being 0.01 M HEPES pH 7.4, 0.15 M NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.005% Surfactant P20). Catalogue Number: BR-1001-88, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden. Buffer stored at 4° C.

Immobilisation buffer: Acetate 5.0 (being 10 mM sodium acetate pH 5.0). Catalogue number: BR-1003-51, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden. Buffer stored at 4° C.

Running buffer for binding assay: HBS-EP (being 0.01 M HEPES pH 7.4, 0.15 M NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.005% Surfactant P20, Catalogue Number: BR-1001-88, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden) with CM-Dextran added at 1 mg/mL (Catalogue Number 27560, Fluka BioChemika, Buchs, Switzerland). Buffer stored at 4° C. Ligand Capture Affinipure F(ab′)₂ fragment goat anti-human IgG, Fc fragment specific. Jackson ImmunoResearch Inc (Pennsylvania, USA) Catalogue number: 109-006-098. Reagent stored at 4° C. Ligand Humanised anti-human sclerostin antibodies Ab5, Ab14 and Ab20. Analyte Recombinant human sclerostin. Aliquots stored at −70° C. and thawed once for each assay. Regeneration Solution 40 mM HCl prepared by dilution with distilled water from an 11.6 M stock solution (BDH, Poole, England. Catalogue number: 101254H). 5 mM NaOH prepared by dilution with distilled water from a 50 mM stock solution. Catalogue number: BR-1003-58, Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden. Assay Method

The assay format was capture of the anti-sclerostin antibody by immobilised anti-human IgG-Fc then titration of the sclerostin over the captured surface.

An example of the procedure is given below:

BIA (Biamolecular Interaction Analysis) was performed using a BIAcore 3000 (BIAcore AB). Affinipure F(ab′)₂ Fragment goat anti-human IgG, Fc fragment specific (Jackson ImmunoResearch) was immobilised on a CM5 Sensor Chip via amine coupling chemistry to a capture level of ≈4000 response units (RUs). HBS-EP buffer (10 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 0.15 M NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.005% Surfactant P20, BIAcore AB) containing 1 mg/mL CM-Dextran was used as the running buffer with a flow rate of 10 μl/min. A 10 μl injection of the anti-sclerostin antibody at ˜5 μg/mL was used for capture by the immobilised anti-human IgG-Fc. Antibody capture levels were typically 100-200 RU. Sclerostin was titrated over the captured anti-sclerostin antibody at various concentrations at a flow rate of 30 μL/min. The surface was regenerated by two 10 μL injections of 40 mM HCl, followed by a 5 μL injection of 5 mM NaOH at a flowrate of 10 μL/min. Background subtraction binding curves were analyzed using the BIAevaluation software (version 3.2) following standard procedures. Kinetic parameters were determined from the fitting algorithm. The kinetic data and calculated dissociation constants are given in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Affinity of anti-sclerostin antibodies for sclerostin Antibody ka (1/Ms) kd (1/s) Kd (pM) Ab-5 1.78E+06 1.74E−04 97.8 Ab-14 3.30E+06 4.87E−06 1.48 Ab-20 2.62E+06 4.16E−05 15.8

Example 12 In Vivo Testing of Anti-Sclerostin Monoclonal Antibodies in Cynomolgous Monkeys

Thirty-three, approximately 3-5 year old, female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were used in this 2-month study. The study contained 11 groups:

Group 1: vehicle (N=4)

Group 2: Ab-23 (N=2, dose 3 mg/kg)

Group 3: Ab-23 (N=3, dose 10 mg/kg)

Group 4: Ab-23 (N=3, dose 30 mg/kg)

Group 5: Ab-5 (N=3, dose 3 mg/kg)

Group 6: Ab-5 (N=3, dose 10 mg/kg)

Group 7: Ab-5 (N=3, dose 30 mg/kg)

Group 8: Ab-14 (N=3, dose 3 mg/kg)

Group 9: Ab-14 (N=3, dose 10 mg/kg)

Group 10: Ab-14 (N=3, dose 30 mg/kg)

Group 11: Parathyroid Hormone (1-34) [PTH (1-34)] (N=3, dose 10 ug/kg)

All dosing was subcutaneous. PTH (1-34) was dosed everyday, monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were dosed twice (first dose at the beginning of the study and second dose at the one month time point). For assessment of bone parameters (e.g. bone mineral density) pQCT (peripheral quantitative computed tomography) and DXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) scans were performed prior to the beginning of the study (to obtain baseline values) and after a month (prior to the second dose of Mab) and finally at the end of the study (2-month time point) at which point the monkeys were necropsied for further analysis (e.g. histomorphometric analysis). Animals were fluorochrome labeled (days 14, 24, 47, and 57) for dynamic histomorphometry. Serum was collected at various time points during the study [day 1 pre-dose (the day of the first Mab dose), day 1 twelve hours post-dose, day 2, day 3, day 5, day 7, day 14, day 21, day 28, day 29 twelve hours post-dose (day 29 was the day of the second and final Mab dose), day 30, day 31, day 33, day 35, day 42, day 49 and day 56]. Three bone-related serum biomarkers were measured using commercially available kits: Osteocalcin (OC) (DSL Osteocalcin Radioimmunoassay Kit; Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Inc., Webster, Tex., USA) N-terminal Propeptide of Type I Procollagen (P1NP) (P1NP Radioimmunoassay Kit; Orion Diagnostica, Espoo, Finland) C-telopeptide fragments of collagen type I at chains (sCTXI) (Serum CrossLaps® ELISA; Nordic Bioscience Diagnostics A/S, Herlev, Denmark).

pQCT and MCA scans yielded data on various bone parameters (including bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content) across numerous skeletal sites (including tibial metaphysis and diaphysis, radial metaphysis and diaphysis, femur neck, lumbar vertebrae). Analysis of this bone data (percent change from baseline for each animal) and the anabolic (OC, P1NP) serum biomarker data (percent change from baseline for each animal) revealed statistically significant increases, versus the vehicle group, in some parameters at some of the time points and doses for each Mab. This bone parameter data, serum biomarker data, as well as the histomorphometric data, indicated that each of the 3 Mabs (Ab-23, Ab-5 and Ab-14) was able to neutralize sclerostin in cynomolgous monkeys. This activity was most robust for Ab-23 and Ab-5, particularly at the highest dose (30 mg/kg), with a clear increase in bone formation (anabolic effect) as well as net gains in bone (e.g. BMD). Statistically significant increases in bone parameters and anabolic histomorphometric parameters were also found for the positive control group (PTH (1-34)).

Serum bone formation markers (P1NP, osteocalcin) were increased (p<0.05 vs vehicle (VEH)) at various time points and doses, but particularly in the 30 mg/kg groups for Ab-23 and Ab-5. Histomorphometric analysis revealed dramatic increases (p<0.05 vs VEH) in bone formation rates in cancellous bone at lumbar vertebra and proximal tibia (up to 5-fold increase), as well as at the endocortical surface of the femur midshaft (up to 10-fold increase) at the higher doses of Ab-23 and Ab-5. Trabecular thickness was increased with high dose Ab-23 and Ab-5 in lumbar vertebrae (>60%, p<0.05 vs VEH). By study end (2 months), areal BMD, as percent change from baseline, was increased (p<0.05 vs VEH) at the femur neck, ultra-distal radius (Ab-23, 30 mg/kg), and lumbar vertebrae (Ab-5, 30 mg/kg). The increases in areal BMD at the lumbar vertebrae were accompanied by increases in vertebral strength (97% increase in vertebral maximal load for Ab-23, 30 mg/kg; p<0.05 vs VEI-1); baseline values for lumbar areal BMD prior to Mab dosing were statistically similar across all groups. In summary, short-term administration of sclerostin-neutralizing Mabs in cynomolgous monkeys resulted, in part, in increases in bone formation, BMD and vertebral bone strength.

From the foregoing, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. All publications, published patent applications, and patent documents disclosed herein are hereby incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An IgG antibody that binds sclerostin of SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprises CDRH-1, CDR-H2, CDR-H3, CDR-L1 CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 wherein CDR-H1 is SEQ ID NO:245, CDR-H2 is SEQ ID NO:246, CDR-H3 is SEQ ID NO:247, CDR-L1 is SEQ ID NO:78, CDR-L2 is SEQ ID NO:79 and CDR-L3 is SEQ ID NO:80.
 2. An antibody that binds sclerostin of SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprises a heavy chain comprising a polypeptide having the sequence provided in SEQ ID NO:145 or 392, and a light chain comprising a polypeptide having the sequence provided in SEQ ID NO:
 141. 3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody according to claim 2 in combination with one or more of a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent or carrier.
 4. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3, additionally comprising other active ingredients.
 5. A method of increasing at least one of bone formation, bone mineral content, bone mass, bone mineral density, or bone strength in a mammalian subject comprising administering to the mammalian subject an antibody comprising a heavy chain comprising CDRs of SEQ ID NOs: 245, 246 and 247 and a light chain comprising CDRs of SEQ ID NOs: 78, 79 and 80, wherein the antibody demonstrates a binding affinity for sclerostin of SEQ ID NO: 1 of less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁷ M.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the heavy chain of the antibody comprises SEQ ID NO: 378 and the light chain of the antibody comprises SEQ ID NO:
 376. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the heavy chain of the antibody comprises SEQ ID NO: 141 and the light chain of the antibody comprises SEQ ID NO: 145 or SEQ ID NO:
 392. 8. The antibody of claim 2, which is an IgG antibody.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody or a humanized antibody.
 10. The method of claim 5, wherein the antibody is an IgG antibody.
 11. The method of claim 5, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
 12. The method of claim 5, wherein the antibody demonstrates a binding affinity for sclerostin of SEQ ID NO: 1 of less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁸ M.
 13. The method of claim 5, wherein the antibody demonstrates a binding affinity for sclerostin of SEQ ID NO: 1 of less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁹ M.
 14. The method of claim 5, wherein the subject is a postmenopausal woman.
 15. A method of treating osteoporosis or osteopenia comprising administering to a mammalian subject in need thereof an IgG antibody comprising heavy chain CDRs of SEQ ID NOs: 245, 246 and 247 and light chain CDRs of SEQ ID NOs: 78, 79 and 80, wherein the antibody demonstrates a binding affinity for sclerostin of SEQ ID NO: 1 of less than or equal to 1×10⁻⁷ M.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the subject is a postmenopausal woman. 